James S. Hopkins 1866-1867
Charles B. Seely 1866-1872
Virgil Thompson 1866-1868
Nathaniel Van Sickle 1866-1878
William H. Ward 1866-1870
Alfred B. Post 1868
Charles M. Thompson 1869-1874
William H. Houston 1869-1871
John S. Edsall 1871-1873
Virgil Thompson 1872-1874
Alfred Wells 1873-1875
Daniel M. Wade 1874-1875
Alfred B. Post 1874-1878
Augustus Denniston 1875-1877
Ebenezer Van Alst 1875-1892
Rev. L. L. Comfort 1876-1877
John C. Shafer 1877-1879
Benjamin C. Sears 1878-1888
William H. Hallock 1878-1908
Daniel Smith 1879-1883
Pierson E. Sanford 1880-1890
J. Edward Wells 1880-1905
W. Egbert Arnout 1882-1889
Leander Clark, Jr. 1883-1897
Horace McBride 1883-1889
Henry M. Howell 1883-1899
Joseph Van Cleft 1885-1898
Daniel S. Waring 1885-1890
John M. Burt 1886-1893
Charles E. Johnson 1889-1897
E. G. Fowler 1890-1892
Samuel B. Hill 1890-1898
Theodore Moore 1891-1896
Edward B. Sanford 1891-1895
William H. Nearpass 1893-1895
Joseph S. Dunning 1893-1895
Edwin T. Skidmore 1894-1896
Sidney H. Sanford 1896-1905
Edwin L. Requa 1896-1897
C. Emmet Crawford 1896
E. G. Fowler 1896-1898
George A. Swayze 1897-1900
Horace D. Thompson 1897-1905
Emmet E. Wood 1898
Oscar W. Mapes 1898
William H. Clark 1898-1903
Charles Mapes 1899-1905
Samuel D. Roberson 1899-1901
V. Edgar Hill 1899-1908
W. A. Lawrence 1899-1908
Joel W. Houston 1900-1908
Charles L. Elwood 1900-1902
John I. Bradley 1901-1908
William B. Royce 1901-1908
Leander Clark, Jr. 1902-1906
W. G. Davis 1903-1905
William H. Nearpass 1903-1908
William C. Hart 1904-1908
W. O. Minturn 1904-1908
John W. Sanford 1906-1908
Rev. Andrew Schriver 1906-1908
Dr. M. A. Stivers 1906-1908
Howard D. Seely 1906-1908
A. F. Storey 1907-1908
Wallkill Valley Farmers' Association--The following brief sketch was
furnished by Mr. William C. Hart, Secretary of the Association. In
1889, the late Chauncey A. Reed suggested to the writer the
advisability of the farmers of the Wallkill valley uniting in an
effort to secure the appointment of a Farmers' Institute, to be held
under the auspices of the New York State Department of Farmers'
Institutes. An hour later, in consultation with Nicholas J. Fowler,
it was decided to invite representative agriculturists to meet at his
office on the evening of November 11, at which time a local society
would be formed. The result of this meeting was highly satisfactory.
William C. Weller was appointed chairman, William C. Hart, secretary,
and Nicholas J. Fowler, treasurer, with committees on finance, music,
addresses, etc. On November 25, at an adjourned meeting, the
executive committee reported an enrollment of one hundred and
sixty-eight members, with liberal responses in contributions to
defray expenses.
The Institute held at Scofield Hall, December 19, 20 and 21, proved
successful beyond the anticipation of its promoters and immediately
suggested the desirability of forming a permanent organization. The
idea was greatly strengthened on February 10 at Coldenham, N. Y.,
when Mr. George T. Powell, of Ghent, N. Y., gave a stirring address
on the importance of carrying forward the movement, which appealed
strongly to all. Thus started the movement which has resulted in the
present organization--an association that has done more to unfold the
beauty and charm of the Wallkill Valley and spread its fair name to
remote localities than all efforts put forth by similar attempts in
this direction.
OBJECTS OF ORGANIZATION.
The realization of the inestimable majesty; the unspeakable goodness
of God as revealed in this marvelous valley, thus indirectly leading
the thought of humanity into the valleys and rivers of life eternal.
The attainment of knowledge which comes of well ordered discussion.
Increased skill in the methods of labor.
The mutual improvement of its members by disseminating reliable and
valuable information tending to promote the best interests of the
Wallkill valley.
Such advantages as may be derived through associated effort to
promote a higher degree of excellence in farm, garden and
agricultural affairs generally. The introduction and testing of
flowers, shrubs, forest and ornamental trees.
It is the primary object of the Society to awaken interest in and
promote the progress of that noblest of all human callings,
agriculture, and it is the policy of the board of managers to
interest all in its annual outing--not only as an exhibition of the
prosperity and progress of the farming section, of the growths of
field and orchard and garden, of intelligent competition in
stock-breeding and dairy interests, but as a demonstration of the
public spirit, intelligence and prosperity of the entire productive
and business community.
THE OUTING DAYS AND OLD HOME WEEK.
As the society grew and prospered it was decided to establish a
social side to the many interests represented. Arrangements were made
with much enthusiasm on the part of its membership to hold beneath
the open sky an outing that would have a tendency to attract the
farming community with their guests and friends that might prove
advantageous to all.
MEMORIAL DAYS--DATES AND LOCATIONS OF THE OUTINGS OF THE ASSOCIATION.
1893--August 25, at Woodlawn Farm
1894--August 15, at Borden's Home Farm.
1895--August 21, at Woodlawn Farm.
1896--August 13, at Woodlawn Farm.
1897--August 26, at Woodlawn Farm, Walden.
1898--August 10, at Scofield's Grove, Walden.
1899--August 9, at Gillespie's Grove and Walden Driving Park.
1900--August 8, at Gillespie's Grove and Walden Driving Park.
1901--August 14, at Gillespie's Grove and Walden Driving Park.
1902--August 13, at Gillespie's Grove and Walden Driving Park.
1903--August 12 and 13, at Gillespie's Grove and Walden Driving
Park.
1904--August 17 and 18, at Gillespie's Grove and Walden Driving
Park.
1905--August 16 and 17, at Gillespie's Grove and Walden Driving
Park.
1906--August 15, 16 and 17, at Gillespie's Grove and Walden Driving
Park.
1907--August 14 and 15, at Gillespie's Grove and Walden Driving
Park.
Highly artistic booklets have been issued since 1894, under the
supervision of William C. Hart. The fifteen volumes are classified
as follows:
1894--Borden's Home Farm. 1904--Gems from the Hudson. Famous
1895--Historical " " Horses of Orange County.
1896--Tributary Streams of the 1905--The Hudson and Wallkill
Wallkill. Rivers. City of Middletown,
1897--Indian Localities and In Art and Story.
Hostilities.
1898--Battle of Minisink. 1906--Lake Mohonk, profusely
1899--Churches of the Wallkill illustrated. Orange Blossoms
Valley. and guests at Gettysburg.
1900--Beautiful Landscape Views. Walden in Profile. The
1901--The Wallkill Valley at Catskills and Queenly Hudson.
Gettysburg, Orange County
Agricultural Society, 1907--Wallkill Valley Farmers'
Mountain Drives of Mohonk. Association. Lake Mohonk Snow
1902--Through the Valley of the bound.
Wallkill, profusely
illustrated. 1908--The Hudson River.
1903--Companion Volume of 1902.
Officers, 1889-1907.
President. Vice-President. Secretary.
1889 W. C. Weller, Chairman. W. C. Hart.
1890 W. C. Weller. J. K. Brown. " "
1891 " " " " " "
1892 " " " " W. H. Gillespie
1893 " " R. B. Crowell W. C. Hart
1894 J. B. Hadden. G. W. Folsom. " "
1895 " " J. D. Mould. " "
1896 " " J. P. Covert. " "
1897 " " H. N. Smith. " "
1898 " " " " " "
1899 " " " " " "
1900 I. W. Decker. " " " "
1901 " " " " " "
1902 F. B. Walker. W. H. Dunn. " "
1903 L. M. Borden. J. W. Decker. " "
1904 I. W. Decker. A. Wiley. " "
1905 " " J. K. Brown. " "
1906 " " " " " "
1907 " " " " " "
Treasurer. Superintendent.
1889 N. J. Fowler. I. W. Decker.
1890 " " " "
1891 " " " "
1892 " " " "
1893 " " " "
1894 " " " "
1895 " " " "
1896 C. R. Fowler " "
1897 A. S. Embler " "
1898 A. J. Fowler " "
1899 " " S. H. Knapp
1900 " " " "
1901 " " " "
1902 " " " "
1903 " " " "
1904 " " " "
1905 " " A. Wiley
1906 " " " "
THE GRANGE IN ORANGE COUNTY.
This modern organization in the rural districts of New York State is
strongly represented in this county. There are twenty-two subordinate
Granges with a total membership of 2,470 in the county, as reported
by delegate John Y. Gerow at the last annual session of the State
Grange, and all are in a most prosperous condition. A Pomona Grange,
which is the link between the subordinate granges and the State
organization, was formed at Washingtonville, April 18, 1903, with 118
members. This has now about 600 members. Mr. Gerow was the chairman
for three years and was presented with a gold badge at his
resignation. Albert Manning is now the master. Five of the
subordinate granges in the county own their halls, three own
buildings and conduct cooperative stores successfully.
The first Grange organized in the county was at Unionville, June 27,
1901, with thirty-four charter members. It is known as the Minisink
No. 907. W. A. Lain was the first master. The membership has
increased to 168. Alva Case is the present master. The Monroe Grange
was the second in order of date, beginning December 12, 1901. It is
No. 911; there were only eighteen charter members, which was
increased lo 147. George S. Bull was the first master and James
Seaman is now at the head. Grange No. 912 started at Washingtonville,
with John W. Gerow as master. This Grange now operates a general
store. Little Britain, Grange No. 913 was next started with twenty
members, Charles E. Knapp being the first master. This has now 115
members and William D. Moores is the present master. The Brookside
Grange No. 936, began November 18, 1902, with a membership of
twenty-two, which has been increased to 173. Clarence O. Warford is
the present master. The Mountainville Grange, No. 946, was started
December 12, 1902, with twenty-two members. C. E. Hand is now the
master. The Warwick Grange, No. 948, was organized January 6, 1903
with twenty-nine members, which has since been increased to
ninety-six. C. M. Houston is the master, and a general feed, coal and
farmers' supply store is operated. The Hamptonburgh Grange, No. 950,
began January 7, 1903, with thirty-nine members, which has been
increased to 115, with S. P. Watkins as master. The Stony Ford
Grange, No. 951, was organized with twenty-one members, January 8,
1903, Ebenezer Bull having been the master from the first, the
present membership being forty-five. The Goshen Grange, No. 975,
began March 25, 1903, with nineteen members, which has been increased
to 137. William Hughes is the master, and a general store is operated
with an extensive trade. The Cronomer Valley Grange, No. 982, built
a large meeting hall in 1907; Nat C. Barnes is the master. This
Grange was organized, June 20, 1903, with twenty charter members.
Mr. Dewitt C. Osborn was the first master. There are now 151 members.
Grange No. 916 was organized at Montgomery, February 11, 1902, with
thirteen charter members. George Van Alst was the first master. The
present membership is 148, and Harry Tweddle is master. The following
additional Granges in the county were organized in the order
indicated by the number of each:
Present Master
983 G. L. Sayer, Middletown.
984 A. C. Bull, Chester.
1001 J. R. Feagles, Pine Island.
1002 W. E. Weller, Bloomingburgh.
1003 Frank Remey, Slate Hill.
1004 H. T. Baker, Thompson's.
1014 W. H. Burger, Pine Bush.
1018 J. W. Eaton, Westtown.
1020 J. G. Fuller, Otisville.
1053 J. O. Goble, Florida.
The Patrons' Fire Insurance Company of Orange and Ulster counties,
has issued policies to the amount of $3,600,000, and it is said to
have saved the policy holders $250,000 in the past four years.
[Illustration: W. T. Doty]
CHAPTER XXXVII.
JOURNALISM IN ORANGE COUNTY
By W. T. Doty.
FIRST APPEARANCE.
From the accessible records it seems that the "art preservative"
entered Orange County by way of Goshen in 1788. It appeared next in
Newburgh in 1895, {_sic_} at New Windsor in 1799, at Montgomery in
1806, New Vernon in 1833, Slate Hill in 1834, Middletown, in 1840,
Port Jervis in 1850, Warwick in 1845, Pine Bush in 1868, Walden in
1869, Cornwall 1871, Monroe 1882, Cornwall-on-Hudson in 1888, Chester
1888, Highland Falls 1891, Washingtonville 1899.
At first thought it appears more probable that Newburgh was the first
port of entry, from the fact that the latter early felt the contact
of the civilization advancing up the Hudson--practically the only
highway into the great unknown interior prior to, during and
immediately following the American Revolution; and also as, during
the Revolution, Samuel Louden followed the retreating footsteps of
the American forces from New York City to Fishkill, printing or
issuing, at convenient times, the _New York Packet._ This was issued,
it appears, at Fishkill. Why not in Newburgh, where so many great
events in connection with the Revolutionary period occurred?
However, Goshen seems to have been a hamlet or village as early as
1714, while Newburgh's first settlement was about 1719, and the
records accord to the old county seat the honor of housing the first
printing office in Orange County.
In 1788 David Mandeville and David M. Wescott issued the _Goshen
Repository._ That they were men of some literary ability is surmised
from the fact that they were connected with the Goshen Academy--that
ancient and honorable seat of learning--an institution of which,
also, Goshen should feel a thrill of pride.
The office of the _Repository_ was, in 1793, near the court house.
The _Repository_ was sold to John G. and William Heurtin, in 1800,
at which time its name was changed to the _Orange County Patriot._
In 1801 Gabriel Denton secured the interest of William Heurtin, and
in 1803 Denton sold his interest to William A. Carpenter, and the
name of the paper was changed to that of _The Friend of Truth._ The
year following it again changed owners and names, when Ward M. Gazlay
became its publisher and it became the _Orange Eagle._ The next year
(1805) the office was burned and Mr. Gazlay removed the remains to
Newburgh, where the paper, in union with _The Recorder of the Times,_
which Mr. Gazlay purchased, became the _Political Index,_ and this
lived until 1829.
According to the record the second journalistic venture in the county
was in 1795, when the _Newburgh Packet_ appeared, printed at Newburgh
by Lucius Carey, and in 1797 it became _The Mirror_ under David
Denniston. Denniston had purchased the paper of Carey (1797), in
which year it was announced that the paper was printed by Philip Van
Home. In 1798 Joseph W. Barber was the printer, and he advertised,
"also, Printing and Book Binding carried on by David Denniston." _The
Mirror_ was absorbed (1804) by the _Rights of Man,_ and the latter by
_The Recorder of the Times_ in 1805.
In 1799 we hear of the _New Windsor Gazette,_ through the removal of
a paper of that name from New Windsor to Newburgh, by Jacob Schultz.
How long it had existed at New Windsor is now purely conjectural, but
as most of the newspapers of that early period were sort of birds of
passage, it is assumed that the year 1799 witnessed the _Gazette's_
hatching at New Windsor and its fledgling flight to Newburgh, where
it became the _Orange County Gazette._ It became _The Citizen_ when
later purchased by David Denniston.
The year 1799 also brought forth at Newburgh another publication,
_The Rights of Man,_ with Dr. Elias Winfield as its sponsor, for whom
it was "printed by Benoni H. Howell." David Denniston purchased this
paper and merged in it the _Orange County Gazette._ We learn that the
_Mirror_ of 1797 was absorbed by _The Rights of Man_ in 1804, and
then the _Packet,_ the _Mirror,_ and the _Gazette_ disappear. The
_Mirror_ and the _Citizen_ espoused the patriotic political works and
probably the religious doctrines of Thomas Paine, who wrote "The
Crisis," "Common Sense," and "The Rights of Man," while the _Gazette_
advocated opposite theories. The paper, _The Rights of Man,_ which
absorbed the _Mirror_ and the _Citizen,_ represented the Jeffersonian
branch of the Republican party, while the _Recorder of the Times,_
claiming to be Republican in politics, represented the Federalists
and Burr, then a Federalist.
In 1803 appeared at Newburgh the _Recorder of the Times,_ by Dennis
Coles. Then at Goshen the same year, _The Friend of Truth,_ under the
management of Ward M. Gazlay, and in 1804 at Goshen the _Orange
County Gazette,_ conducted by Gabriel Denton. It will be seen there
were, within five years, two _Orange County Gazettes_ in the
county--one at Newburgh, one at Goshen. As the former metamorphosed
itself into the _Public Index,_ the _Orange Telegraph,_ the
_Newhurgh Telegraph_ and the _Newburgh Register,_ with short pauses
between, it may be that it had thrown off the first epidermis and was
emerging in new form when its Goshen namesake burst into the
sunlight.
Montgomery was looming up from its settlement in 1721, or soon
thereafter, and in 1810 it was large enough, or felt important
enough, to become incorporated as a village. But as early as 1806 the
printer or publisher saw an "aching void" in the growing hamlet, to
pervade which the _Orange County Republican_ was called into
existence that year. It was "published for the Proprietors by Cyrus
Beach and Luther Pratt." Who the "Proprietors" were is not in
evidence.
It is worthy of record right here that this Montgomery journalistic
venture is the only one, up to that date, that lives to-day. Through
migration and other changes this _Orange County Republican_
ultimately became the _Independent Republican,_ with a permanent
abiding place in Goshen.
That venerable editor and historian, Edward M. Ruttenber, says the
_Orange County Republican_ was first published "at Ward's Bridge,"
the title of the first post-office in Montgomery, so called from the
fact that it was located and kept at James Ward's gristmill, where
he had thrown a bridge across the Wallkill, constituting it one of
the most convenient locations for the delivery of mail matter.
The money to start the paper was advanced in equal shares by
twenty-four "Patriotic citizens of this county, consisting chiefly of
respectable farmers and mostly inhabitants of the town of
Montgomery." This excerpt is from a statement in the paper itself of
the issue of June 9, 1806. The paper "admitted there was some honesty
among Federalists," but was bitterly opposed to Dewitt Clinton.
January 18, 1812, Luther Pratt, the publisher then, changed its name
to the _Independent Republican_ as more clearly indicating its
political policy and views. It was not until 1822 that it was removed
to Goshen, four years after James A. Cheevey became its proprietor.
He was a Frenchman and a practical printer.
In 1806 appeared another publication, the _Political Index,_ at
Newburgh, by Ward M. Gazlay. The latter's _Orange Eagle_ plant at
Goshen was burned in 1805, and he had removed the remnants to
Newburgh, the Phoenix emerging from these ashes being the _Political
Index._ The _Index_ is credited with having, some years later,
"apparently consolidated the interests of the Republican party." It
gave a "hearty support to the administration of Jefferson and
Madison, and to the war of 1812." It is further stated that "its
political articles were mainly from the pen of Jonathan Fisk, one of
the most able men of the period."
In 1829 the _Index_ passed into the ownership of Charles M. Cushman,
who changed its name to the _Orange Telegraph,_ and later to the
_Newburgh Telegraph._ In 1839 Mr. Cushman sold it to Henry H. Van
Dyck, who, in 1840, sold it to Elias Pitts, who, in 1850, disposed of
it to Edward M. Ruttenber. The latter sold it in 1857 to Joseph
Lawson, repurchased it in 1859, resold it in 1861 to E. W. Gray, who
sold it, in 1864, to George M. Warren, he to Isaac V. Montanye in the
same year; he to E. M. Ruttenber in 1865; he to A. A. Bensel in 1867;
he to J. J. McNally in 1869, who, in 1874, sold it to Dr. Cooper, of
Warwick. In 1876 E. M. Ruttenber again became its owner, and changed
its name to the _Newburgh Register._ February 24, 1908, the
publication of the _Register_ was suspended.
Here, then, appears the second paper to come down to us from that
early period, though only after many ups and down and with
kaleidoscopic changes of titles and owners. Mr. Ruttenber assures us
that "_The Telegraph,_ although Democratic at all times, opposed the
Albany Regency--a fact which led to its purchase by H. H. Van Dyck,
or rather the purchase for him. Mr. Pitts, who had been sent to take
Mr. Van Dyck's place, very soon fell into the line of thought of his
local supporters, and not only approved the Regency, but upheld the
'Free Soil' banner of 1848 with marked ability. In the subsequent
changes and revolutions," adds Mr. Ruttenber, "in politics it has
maintained the Democratic faith."
An ambitious effort appeared at Goshen in 1808 when Gabriel Denton
launched the _Orange County Patriot and Spirit of Seventy-six._ In
this publication we recognize the third journalistic venture with
sufficient tenacity of life to come down to our own day, though it,
too, had to change its title and character somewhat ere it became the
present well-known _Goshen Democrat._
From 1808 to 1820 there seems to be a hiatus. There does not appear
a single new journalistic venture in that time, although it was in
this period, in 1812-13, that the _Orange County Republican_ became
the _Independent Republican,_ and in 1822 was removed from Montgomery
to Goshen. The war of 1812, impending, progressing and ending, with
war's all-demoralizing effects, may account for this cooling of the
journalistic ardor for twelve long years.
At any rate, the next new publication to appear in the
field--figuratively if not literally--was the _Orange Farmer,_ in
1820, at Goshen. Its founders, Williams and Farrand, were graduates,
Mr. Ruttenber says, of the _Albany Plow-Boy_ publication. How long
the _Orange Farmer_ ploughed through the journalistic heather of
Orange County is not now known, but we never hear of it again. Mr.
Ruttenber records that "Samuel Williams, the associate of Mr.
Farrand, died at Rondout, June 16, 1878, in his ninetieth year--the
oldest printer in the State, and for forty years a member of the
Baptist denomination."
In June, 1822, John D. Spaulding began, at Newburgh, the publication
of the _Newburgh Gazette._ This passed through many owners' hands,
appearing in 1856, under the management of Eugene W. Gray as the
_Daily News._ Later it passed a somewhat checkered career in
alliances with the _Gazette,_ the _Telegraph,_ the _Daily Telegraph_
(1864), _Daily Union,_ same year, the _Press_ (1866), and the
_Register_ in 1876.
The Rev. J. R. Wilson began at Newburgh, in 1824, the publication of
a religious monthly of forty-eight pages, under the title of the
_Evangelical Witness._ It was devoted to the exposition of the
doctrines of the Reformed Presbyterian church, and was continued four
years, to be succeeded (1828) by the _Christian Statesman,_ which
gave up the ghost after one year's struggle in this cruel, cold
world.
An anti-Jackson paper appeared in Newburgh during the campaign of
1828. It was called _The Beacon._ Its editor was Judge William B.
Wright.
In 1829 the _Orange Telegraph_ appeared at Newburgh. It was merely
our old friend, the _Political Index,_ in a new guise, under the
tutelage of Charles M. Cushman, who subsequently named it the
_Newburgh Telegraph._
A monthly quarterly appeared next in Newburgh in May, 1832, as
_Tablets of Rural Economy._ John W. Knevels was the editor. The
people then, as too often now, had no use for rural or other economy,
and the quarterly died after a few issues.
In 1832 appeared another publication--one that time has dealt with
so kindly that we find it to-day brandishing, as of old, "The sword
of the Lord and of Gideon." The _Signs of the Times_ was started at
Goshen in this year by Lebbeus L. Vail as an exponent or expounder of
the Old School Baptist theology. The first numbers were printed at
the office of the _Independent Republican._ Mr. Vail, though born a
Congregationalist--his father, Isaiah Vail, being one of the founders
of the present First Congregationalist church of Middletown--became
an enthusiastic Old School Baptist through the influence of his wife,
Sally, daughter of Wilmot Moore, and her father's family. Like most
neophytes, Mr. Vail became very earnest, and gave freely of his
purse, his time, and his energies, and the _Signs of the Times_ soon
became a recognized factor in Old School Baptist work. This
publication was only one of the forms of his contributions to the
cause, with no hope of material reward. Two years later Mr. Vail
became county clerk. Recognizing in a young enthusiast in the Old
School Baptist faith an Elijah in the cause and fit to wear the
mantle, he was forced by civic duties to lay aside, he turned over to
Elder Gilbert Beebe the entire plant and good will of the _Signs of
the Times._ Mr. Beebe removed the office to New Vernon, then a
somewhat thriving hamlet with a well-appointed Old School Baptist
church, with store, post-office, hotel, blacksmith shop, and the
accessories of a live community. The place is on the Shawangunk Kill,
on the Orange and Sullivan County line, about four miles northwest of
Middletown. Mr. Beebe removed the plant again, this time to
Alexandria, Va., whence he returned with it to New Vernon, and in
1847 or 1848 removed it to Middletown, where it still oscillates, as
of old, the sword of Gideon. Elder Beebe preached to congregations in
Middletown, Brookfield (Slate Hill), Bloomingburg, Van Burenville or
Wallkill, and New Vernon. He was an energetic, tireless worker, and
built up an immense circulation for the _Signs of the Times._ It
became a power in Old School Baptist faith throughout the United
States, and was for years--and is yet--the leading publication in
this faith. In the sixties Elder Beebe reprinted sermons and Old
School Baptist verses in book form, taken from files of the _Signs._
Two volumes were printed and they had great sale. The _Signs of the
Times,_ first published as a monthly, became a semi-monthly, which it
is now, with thirty pages and covers. It is one of the remarkable and
quaint publications in this country to-day. Its contents are a study
for the historian, whether of religious or secular subjects. Whatever
its other merits, its very quaintness should preserve it from the
vandalism of time, the sacrilege of events, and the blasphemy of
environment. It stands as a monument to the enterprise, the religious
feelings, enthusiasm, aims and forces of a period and a propagandism
that seem slowly but surely fading into the twilight of the ages. It
is now "Published the first and fifteenth of each month by J. E.
Beebe & Co., Middletown, N. Y.," with Elder F. A. Chick, Hopewell,
N. J., and Elder H. C. Ker, Middletown, as editors.
The _Newburgh Daily Journal_ was started in 1833 or 1834 by John D.
Spalding, which he continued until 1843, when he changed the name to
the _Highland Courier._ After his death, August 22, 1853, Mrs.
Spalding, his widow, published it until 1855, when she sold it to
William E. Smiley. Edward Nixon became its proprietor in 1858, and
Rufus A. Reed in 1859, who changed its name to the _Highland
Chieftain._
The name was afterwards changed to the _Newburgh Daily Journal,_
which it retains to the present day. On June 1, 1861, Cyrus B. Martin
became the owner and its whole character at once radically changed
for the better. Mr. Martin was peculiarly fitted for editorial duties
and under his able management the paper soon attained a large
circulation and eventually gained that high standing and wide sphere
of influence, which under the wise control of his successors it has
ever since retained.
Mr. Martin remained the owner of the _Journal_ until 1877, when he
sold out to the Messrs. Samuel Ritchie, Lawrence C. Bodine and Frank
S. Hull. Before the year was up, Mr. Bodine disposed of his interests
to his partners, and those two gentlemen have managed the paper ever
since, although their interests are merged in the corporation known
as the Newburgh Journal Company.
The _Journal_ is housed in a building owned by itself, a handsome,
spacious structure, located on the corner of Smith and Third streets,
where it maintains one of the most complete printing establishments
and book bindery plants to be found in the county.
The _Republican Banner_ existed in Montgomery in 1833 or 1834. or in
both those years, with Calvin F. S. Thomas as its publisher, but that
is all that seems to be known about it.
In 1834 a handsomely printed weekly appeared in the thriving locality
of Brookfield or Slate Hill, known as the _Republican Sentinel,_ or
"the _Farmers' Protests Against Political Speculation and
Dictation."_
The writer has a few copies of the _Sentinel,_ which show it to have
been a highly creditable publication, in its make-up, its
typographical appearance, and in its literary features. The issue for
April 12, 1834, was No. 6, of Vol. I, and it was "Printed by Tho's
P. Evans for the Publisher." May 17 the issue was No. 10, and
announced that "The _Republican Sentinel_ is printed every Saturday
by D. Yokum for the Proprietor." The issue for June 28 was No. 16,
and contained the same announcement as to the printer, but in no
issue does it appear who the editor or publisher was. The _Sentinel_
was a five-column folio, improving typographically with each issue,
and printed from clean-faced brevier or possibly minion type. When it
ceased to exist no one now living seems to know.
In 1834, in Newburgh, Wallace T. Sweet issued the _National
Advertiser,_ which was merged into the _Newburgh Telegraph,_ though
in what year is not stated.
The _Reformed Presbyterian_ appeared in Newburgh March 1, 1836, with
Rev. Moses Roney as editor. It was a monthly of thirty-two pages. In
1849 he removed it to Pittsburgh, Pa.
In 1840 A. A. Bensel began the publication of Middletown's first
recorded newspaper venture. He called it the _Middletown Courier._
It was a weekly paper, democratic in politics. In April, 1846, he
removed the entire plant to Kingston, N. Y., where he started the
_Ulster Democrat._
In 1845, in Newburgh, the Rev. David L. Proudfit began issuing the
_Christian Instructor,_ a monthly of thirty-two pages. Two years
later he sold it to the Rev. J. B. Dales, who removed it to
Philadelphia.
So far as records can be found the first publication to appear in
Warwick was an Old School Baptist journal, the _Doctrinal Advocate
and Monitor._ This was in 1845 or 1846, possibly earlier. It was
published and probably edited by Elder Jewett. In 1846 it was merged
with Elder Gilbert Beebe's _Signs of the Times._
Middletown was without a paper from April to July, in 1846. At the
latter date John S. Brown began there the publication of the
_Orange County News._ It was neutral in politics, and Mr. Ruttenber
says it was hardly deserving the name of a newspaper. It died in
1849, the material being purchased by Gilbert J. Beebe for his new
paper.
[Illustration: Frederick W. Wilson]
In August, 1848, Gilbert J. Beebe started in Middletown the
publication of the _Banner of Liberty._ It was issued monthly as a
conservative journal--opposing all the modern ideas of reform in
politics, in religion, in laws and in temperance. In 1856 it became
a weekly, and espoused the cause of the democratic party. In 1856
Mr. Beebe issued the _Campaign Banner_--a sort of auxiliary to the
_Banner of Liberty._ Both were more or less pro-slavery in all their
utterances; the particular limb of the democracy to which they clung
being known as "Hunkerism" prior to the Civil War, as "Copperheadish"
during and after the Civil War. In ante-bellum days both papers
attained a big circulation for those times--"fully 27,000 copies,"
Mr. Ruttenber says. _The Banner of Liberty_ was taken everywhere in
the South and Southwest, and below Mason and Dixon's line it was
all-powerful. And even north of that line there were many who swore
by the Great Horn Spoon and the _Banner of Liberty._ The income was
great, and had Mr. Beebe been as astute a business man as he was
aggressive in polemics, he would have been numbered with the
exclusive few of that day known as millionaires. But Gilbert Judson
Beebe was a different type of man. Like his venerable father, he had
a principle--right or wrong, but right as he saw it--and pelf was
powerless against his adamantine purposes.
His father, Elder Gilbert Beebe, was in position to "roll in wealth."
He had a great income from his _Signs of the Times,_ and from his
writings and books; he had the machinery of his church to manipulate
for his own aggrandizement, if he so willed; he was almost an idol
wherever the Old School Baptists had an abiding place in this
country; but he disdained all sordid allurements, and, armed with his
own peculiar interpretation of the Scriptures, he lived frugally and
pounded his theorems and theological dogmas for three and four
straight hours every Sunday in one of his pulpits, and during the
fortnight in the columns of his _Signs._
The writer of this knew him well; set type a long time in his office
in Orchard street, Middletown; fed his presses; helped get out one of
his book of songs and sermons, and always held the venerable
editor-preacher in respect if not in absolute awe. Looking back at
those days from the year 1908, the writer understands better the
magnetism which gave Elder Beebe his great power among the people.
This peculiar personality was not lost in his children. In Gilbert
Judson Beebe--who made the _Banner of Liberty_ the most powerful
pro-slavery journal for years in ante-bellum days--individuality,
aggressiveness, polemics, even the most violent dogmatism, were
constantly in evidence. Not only did he wield a most trenchant,
bitter pen, ever dipped in the wormwood of invective and the gall of
expletives--he was an orator as well; and could work his hearers up
to a pitch of frenzy or tears. The writer, yet in his teens, was
employed on the _Banner of Liberty_ as a "compositor" for a
considerable time, and had much opportunity for learning the
characteristics of the man.
The _Banner of Liberty_ lost much of its power when the Civil War
boomed its terrors over the land. Its circulation fell off daily, but
the editor every week just as religiously sailed into the "Lincoln
hirelings" with a venom that came near landing him in Fort Lafayette.
The writer was one of those "hirelings," and, while "sticking type"
in his office had many doubtless indiscreet arguments with the
aggressive editor on the issues of the day. Mr. Beebe seemed rather
pleased, not to say amused, at the temerity of the boy-printer, and
gave him opportunity to expound his "abolition heresies."
As the Civil War went on, the paper continually lost prestige, and
when the venerable editor--broken-hearted in the lost cause--died in
1872, the _Banner of Liberty_ became homeless. It was bought by the
Benedict brothers, Thomas E. and Gilbert H., and was removed to
Ellenville. The writer's recollection is that it was later
transferred to Brooklyn, L. I., where it ceased to exist. On this
point, however, he may err; however, it did not long survive its
talented founder.
Gilbert J. Beebe also, in 1848, started another paper--the
_Middletown Mercury._ This paper was less virulent than his _Banner
of Liberty,_ and being devoted to local news, attained a considerable
circulation. In 1860 Mr. Beebe sold the _Mercury_ to James H. Norton,
who had been conducting the _Tri-States Union_ at Port Jervis. Mr.
Norton associated with him in this purchase a young printer and ready
writer, Isaac F. Guiwits. The two were thoroughly practical men, and
soon made their personality and their good taste vividly apparent in
their work. The _Mercury_ was enlarged, new type and machinery were
installed, and it was not many months before the paper began to grow
in circulation and in power. It got better and neater with each
issue; its managers seemed to vie with each other in this work.
Within five years the _Middletown Mercury_ became famous for being
the handsomest newspaper in the United States. For those days, it was
a model of beauty. What is more, it became a leading newspaper; its
local news was gotten up the best, much attention being paid to this
feature--practically an innovation in journalism, strange as this
statement may appear to newspaper men and readers to-day. Mr. Norton
was a democrat of the pro-slavery type, and his editorial utterances
during the war were often vitriolic, notwithstanding which the paper
flourished, many paid-up republican subscribers contributing to its
success, admiring its journalistic features while cursing its
politics. In 1867 Isaac V. Montanye purchased an interest in the
paper, and in 1868 became sole proprietor. In 1869 S. M. Boyd became
its owner. In 1873 the _Middletown Mail_ was merged in the _Mercury,_
when Dr. Joseph D. Friend and George H. Thompson became its editors
and owners. Dr. Friend retired in 1874. In 1878 the _Weekly Argus_
consolidated with the _Mercury,_ which became the _Mercury and
Argus._ In 1876 Cornelius Macardell and George H. Thompson became
proprietors, with Mr. Thompson as editor, who continued thus until
his death in May, 1904. The _Mercury and Argus_ plant remains in the
Macardell family, known as the Argus and Mercury Publishing Company,
with Cornelius Macardell, president; A. B. Macardell, vice-president
and secretary; A. E. Nickinson, treasurer and general manager; A. B.
Macardell, editor; Henry P. Powers and Horace A. MacGowan, city
editors.
In 1849 Thomas George began in Newburgh the publication of the
_Newburgh Excelsior._ E. M. Ruttenber purchased this paper in May,
1851, and merged it with his _Telegraph._
In January, 1850, appeared the first newspaper in Port Jervis, the
_Port Jervis Express._ This journalistic venture deserves especial
notice from the fact that it was started by a colored man. P. H.
Miller--the first publication of such distinction in Orange County,
and possibly in the State. The _Express_ was well printed, and ably
edited. But it died in October the same year.
The _Middletown Advertiser_ was started in Middletown in 1850 by
G. J. Beebe. It was a monthly advertising sheet, and lived two years.
In November, 1850, Colonel Samuel Fowler--a leading citizen--started
the _Tri-States Union_ in Port Jervis. It was a democratic paper,
with John I. Mumford as editor. Lucius F. Barnes, a rising young
lawyer of Milford, Pa., purchased the paper and edited it until
August 10, 1854, when he sold it to James H. Norton. The latter sold
the paper in 1861, to G. W. Allen, of Honesdale, Pa., and Wallace W.
Farnum, a deaf mute, of Port Jervis. The latter was a practical
printer, and remained in the office many years. It was under Allen
and Farnum that the politics of the paper changed from democratic to
republican. In 1862 Allen's interest in the paper was purchased by
Daniel Holbrook, a recent graduate of Harvard College and fresh from
the position of principal of the school at the House of Refuge,
Randall's Island, N. Y. Mr. Holbrook made it a lively republican
paper, ably maintaining the Union cause during the Civil War then
waging. September 27, 1869, Mr. Holbrook sold the paper to Foster
& Mitchell, of Chambersburg, Pa. In 1871 the paper was purchased by
Charles St. John, Jr., William T. Doty, and Alfred E. Spooner. In
1872 Mr. Spooner's interest was purchased by Erwin G. Fowler. All
through this year the _Union_ was one of the foremost supporters of
the liberal republican movement that led to the nomination at
Cincinnati of the lamented Horace Greeley for President. Soon after
Greeley's nomination the Union's proprietors issued _The
Wood-Chopper,_ a campaign paper which was full of fire and
enthusiasm, but died with the ambitions of its martyred presidential
candidate. In January, 1873, Mr. Doty retired from the firm to take
charge of the _Gazette._ Mr. Fowler retired from the paper later in
the same year. In April, 1877, Fred R. Salmon, Mr. St. John's
brother-in-law, young and fresh from a commercial school, entered the
office as bookkeeper. He displayed aptitude and business qualities
from the start--points Mr. St. John quickly recognized--and in 1884
he was made a member of the firm, which became St. John & Salmon, and
thus remained until 1894, when the same members became the Tri-States
Printing Co. In May, 1895, the firm was incorporated as the
Tri-States Publishing Co., which it remains, though on October 1,
1907, Mr. Salmon purchased Mr. St. John's interest and became sole
owner.
In 1878 the _Tri-States Union_ was changed from a weekly to
semi-weekly issue, but within a year or two was changed back to the
weekly issue, which it continues. In 1871 it was changed from a folio
to a quarto, which it remains.
In January, 1873, Mr. St. John started the _Port Jervis Daily Union._ It
was issued as a morning paper for a year or two, since which time it
has been an afternoon paper. It has been edited successively by Ed.
H. Mott, E. A. Brown, Henry A. Van Fredenberg, E. G. Fowler, Fred R.
Salmon, Charles O. Young, James Bennet, Charles A. Starr, Merritt C.
Speidel, and at present by W. T. Doty.
On November 26, 1851, John W. Hasbrouck issued at Middletown the
first number of the weekly _Whig Press._ In March, 1868, Mr.
Hasbrouck sold the plant to Moses D. Stivers. In 1870 Albert
Kessinger bought a half interest in the paper, and the firm was
Stivers & Kessinger until August, 1872, when the junior member died.
In October, 1872, Mr. Stivers sold the plant to F. Stanhope Hill, who
sold an interest to John W. Slauson, and the firm became Hill &
Slauson. Mr. Hill sold his interest to Mr. Stivers July 1, 1873, and
the firm became Stivers & Slauson. In 1880 Mr. Stivers sold his
interest to Mr. Slauson, and Charles J. Boyd entered the firm under
the firm name of Slauson & Boyd. This continued until February, 1906,
when the whole plant was sold to the Middletown Times Publishing Co.,
and the familiar old _Press_ lost its identity in the _Times-Press._
It seemed lamentable to see this staunch old paper die. It was the
pet of that venerable and conscientious laborer in the literary
field, John W. Hasbrouck, and his estimable wife, Dr. Lydia Sayer
Hasbrouck. Both labored for years, literally side by side, in the
editorial room and in the work-shop of the establishment, and they
had built up a fine property. Under its successive changes, in the
hands of Messrs. Stivers, Slauson and Boyd the _Press_ had become one
of the best country newspapers in the State. Its plant was very
valuable, with the most improved machinery, and the whole
establishment was shrewdly managed, the paper ably edited, and
nothing but the menace of a distinguished rival could ever have
induced Messrs. Slauson and Boyd to consent to the disposal of so
valuable a plant.
The temperance agitation evidently struck Port Jervis heavily early
in the fifties, for in June, 1852, J. L. Barlow and John Dow began
the publication of the _Mirror of Temperance._ This lived about
eighteen months.
In 1853 another temperance paper appeared in Port Jervis, when John
Williams issued _The Sentinel._ It died in 1855. Mr. Williams was a
pugnacious Englishman, and while his _Sentinel_ was still on guard,
he issued another temperance paper, in the fall of 1854, which he
called _The Precursor of Temperance._
With the demise of the latter publication and the _Sentinel,_ in
1855, the starting of temperance papers in Port Jervis ceased
entirely. Whether this was due to the complete and perpetual
reclamation of the place by the army of temperance agitators that
swooped down upon it in the fifties, or to the belief that the
warfare was utterly hopeless, is not certain. Any way, the vanquished
(or conquering?) John Williams shook the dust of the town from his
heels and tarried long enough in Middletown to start the
_Hardwareman's Newspaper,_ later the _Iron Age,_ in the office of the
_Whig Press._
In 1855 the _Newburgh American_ was issued by R. P. L. Shafer. It had
a life of only three or four weeks.
In 1855, at the office of the _Whig Press_ in Middletown, John
Williams, who had wrestled with the liquor question in Port Jervis
for a few years, started out in a new line. He had Mr. and Mrs.
Hasbrouck print for him a trade journal--one of the earliest ventures
of this kind in the country. He called it the _Hardwareman's
Newspaper,_ and published it monthly. After three years its name was
changed to the _Iron Age,_ and it is published yet in New York by
David Williams, son of its founder, and is one of the leading trade
journals.
A monthly of forty-eight pages was started in Newburgh in 1855 by
R. B. Denton. It was called the _Literary Scrapbook._ Its life was
short.
If the temperance workers had abandoned the western end of the county
as wholly reclaimed or as irreclaimable, they had an eye or two on
the eastern end of the district, and in March, 1856, Royal B.
Hancock, "as agent for an association of gentlemen," started in
Newburgh a temperance paper which he called the _Newburgh Times._ It
passed into the hands of R. Bloomer & Son, who sold it to Alexander
Wilson, he to Charles Blanchard, and the latter, in 1867, turned it
into the _Newburgh Daily Democrat._ The latter failed in a few
months.
In 1856 in the Middletown _Whig Press_ office Mr. and Mrs. Hasbrouck
began the publication of _The Sybil,_ a fortnightly quarto. It was
edited by Mrs. Hasbrouck, and was a particularly bright, able,
fearless publication. It was continued eight years.
An association of students in Domanski's school in Newburgh, in 1857
started _The Acorn,_ a small but pretentious monthly of a literary
character. It lived about one year.
In the early part of the winter of 1864 Eugene W. Gray began printing
the _Daily Union_ at Newburgh. It was really the _Daily Telegraph,_
which had been suspended for a short time. In 1866 the title of both
the weekly and daily was changed to the _Press._ In 1869 the title of
_Telegraph_ was restored, and in 1876 it became the _Register,_ which
continued until February 24, 1908, when it suspended under financial
difficulties, and, as one paper expressed it, "Too much
anti-Bryanism."
January 27, 1866, Elder Leonard Cox, a practical printer, began
printing Warwick's second paper, which he called the _Warwick
Advertiser._ It was a five or six-column folio, neatly printed, well
edited and newsy. To-day it is one of the best edited weekly
newspapers in the county. It is republican in politics--in fact, has
practically always been so. January, 1869, Elder Cox sold the paper
to John L. Servin, and moved to Virginia. April, 1874, it was
purchased by Daniel F. Welling. He sold it to Stewart & Wilson
(August 5, 1876), who sold it to Stewart & Demerest. The office was
burned out January 24, 1879, after which it was published by Stewart
& Co. Samuel J. Stewart was its editor until Hiram Tate came into
possession of the property. Mr. Tate was a practical printer, and
was fresh from the office of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Hasbrouck's _Whig
Press,_ and had good ideas of what a neat, live newspaper should
be--as generally had the graduates of Mr. and Mrs. Hasbrouck's school
of practical journalism. It is still in Mr. Tate's possession.
Though short-lived, a bright little specimen of ambitious young
journalism appeared in Middletown in September, 1866. It was called
_The Rising Sun,_ and was the first venture in this field by Stephen
H. Sayer, a recent apprentice in the _Whig Press_ office. _The Rising
Sun_ was a literary effort--it might almost be claimed as one of the
earliest of the amateur publications, except that its ambitious young
editor had higher and more mature aims when, out of the environing
nebulae he called into existence his little star of hope. It was a
four-column folio, printed from long primer and nonpareil type--the
two tolerable extremes--and was listed at fifty cents a year. It was
printed in Coe Finch's job printing office at Franklin square in the
third floor of the building now occupied by the Middletown Savings
Bank. Mr. Sayer announced that "_The Rising Sun_ is not a local
paper, but will circulate throughout Maine, Kansas, Iowa, etc., with
as much profit to subscribers there as in the State of New York." The
writer set type on the first issue of _The Rising Sun,_ and had a
sort of god-fatherly interest in this promising luminary, and regrets
that one of the too common cataclysms in the journalistic empyrean
over whelmed the bright little orb ere its rays had scintillated a
single scintillation on either rock-ribbed Maine or bleeding Kansas.
But Mr. Sayer was not extinguished, even if the light of his little
_Rising Sun_ was dimmed forever. He was ambitious, and, what is more,
determined. When he emerged from this celestial crash, he cast his
optics over the universe, and discovered Montgomery, and forthwith
hied him hither, and in April, 1868, issued the first number of the
_Wallkill Valley Times,_ a seven or eight-column folio, of good
appearance, newsy, and well edited. In 1869 he issued the _Dollar
Weekly._ Both publications passed into the hands of Lester Winfield
in 1871.
In 1869 Mr. Sayer also started the _Walden Recorder,_ at Walden.
Chauncey B. Reed took it in 1870, and issued it as the _Walden
Recorder-Herald._ Later he dropped the Recorder, and the paper has
since appeared as the Walden Herald.
From these ventures Mr. Sayer went to Deckertown (now Sussex), N. J.,
and started the _Sussex Independent,_ which has always been one of
the brightest newspapers in New Jersey. After retiring from the
_Independent,_ Mr. Sayer joined the Texas colony of the seventies,
and spent some years in the Lone Star State, farming, writing,
editing, and making himself generally useful to the inhabitants of
the far-away empire of the southwest. He and his estimable family
returned to the north in the eighties, and he is now living in
well-earned retirement on the old farm, near New Vernon, surrounded
by his amiable wife and remarkably bright children--the latter now
grown to maturity as useful and honored members of the community.
One of the marvels of success, for a few years, was Wood's _Household
Advocate,_ a monthly magazine, started in Newburgh by S. S. Wood in
1867. Later the name was changed to _Household Magazine,_ and it
attained a circulation of 60,000 copies. It died in 1874.
Lester Winfield started a paper at Galesville Mills, Ulster County,
in May, 1864, which he removed to Pine Bush in September, 1868, under
the name of the _Pine Bush Weekly Casket._ The same month (September,
1868), he continued the journey to Montgomery, and called the paper
the _Montgomery Republican._ Mr. Winfield succeeded in uniting his
_Casket,_ his _Republican_ and Mr. Smith's _Standard_ into one
publication, May 1, 1869, which he called the _Republican and
Standard,_ which is continued to this day, as the _Montgomery
Standard and Reporter._
Early in 1869 A. A. Bensel started at Newburgh the _Home, Farm and
Orchard,_ an eight-page weekly. It was a bright, useful journal,
devoted to farm topics, and deserved the widest circulation, but it
died in the spring of 1876.
April 22, 1869, James H. Norton, of Middletown late of the _Mercury,_
and William H. Nearpass, of Port Jervis, began the publication in
Port Jervis of the first tri-weekly paper in this county. It was
called The _Evening Gazette._ It was a five-column folio, printed
from new bourgeois type. It was newsy, bright, chatty, and
entertaining from the start. Within a few weeks The _Family Gazette_
appeared from the same office, and was issued weekly. Within a year
the latter was enlarged and became the _Port Jervis Weekly Gazette._
The _Evening_ and the _Weekly Gazette_ soon attained big
circulations, and have since continued to reach a large class of
readers. Both were neutral in politics for years. Mr. Norton retired
from the concern in 1871. Ed. H. Mott, of Honesdale, becoming
associated with Mr. Nearpass in the publishing and editing of the
paper. October 1, 1872, George A. Clement, a young New York lawyer,
purchased the establishment, and turned it into a Republican organ,
supporting General Grant in his second presidential campaign. July 1,
1873, William T. Doty, of Port Jervis, and William R. Waller, of
Monticello, leased the plant. Mr. Doty becoming editor and business
manager, and Mr. Waller taking charge of the mechanical department.
In 1874, Mr. Clement sold the plant to Jesse M. Connor, a Port Jervis
merchant, who, in turn, disposed of it to Hon. Charles St. John,
ex-congressman from this district. Soon afterward Mr. St. John sold
the plant to Ezra J. Horton, of Peekskill, and William T. Doty, and
the paper became democratic. In 1875 the co-partnership between Mr.
Horton and Mr. Doty ended, Mr. Horton retiring, and in October, 1876,
Mr. St. John again became owner of the plant for two issues, when he
disposed of it to William H. Nearpass. The paper has since been
democratic. W. T. Doty continued as editor for several years, being
succeeded by James J. Shier, of Middletown, and since his death, by
Mr. Nearpass as editor. Associated with Mr. Nearpass in the
management and ownership of the paper was Abram Shinier, A. M. May,
James J. Shier, and since the eighties the paper has been conducted
by the Gazette Publishing Co., with W. H. Nearpass as president and
editor, Evi Shinier as secretary and treasurer and business manager,
with Mark V. Richards as associate editor, and James Skellenger as
city editor. The tri-weekly edition was changed to an afternoon daily
issue (except Sunday), and to an eight-column folio, January 17,
1881.
In January, 1869, Isaac F. Guiwits started the first daily newspaper
in Middletown. It was issued at four o'clock every afternoon, except
Sunday, and was printed at the office of the _Middletown Mercury,_
then located over what is now Hanford & Horton's news store on North
street. It was a five-column folio, printed from brevier type, and
was a model of neatness, sprightliness, and paid much attention to
local news. Mr. Guiwits was an elegant writer, brimful of wit--a
thorough all-round printer and "newspaper man," an apt pupil of the
master journalistic mind, James H. Norton, and he made the _Daily
Mail_ a bright paper. But it didn't pay, as a daily, and April 28,
1869, Mr. Guiwits issued the _Middletown Mail,_ a weekly publication
of six columns (folio), this succeeding the _Daily Mail._
Some months later Mr. Guiwits sold the _Mail_ plant to Evander B.
Willis, a printer, stenographer, and reporter. A year or two later
Dr. Joseph D. Friend became the owner of the _Mail._ In 1873 he made
an arrangement by which the _Mail_ was consolidated with the
_Mercury,_ when Dr. Friend and George H. Thompson became the
proprietors of the combined publication. The _Mail_ was a local
newspaper, with democratic tendencies, but it never cut much of a
figure in the newspaper life in the county, after it ceased to be a
daily, though Mr. Guiwits and Dr. Friend were both fine writers, and
Mr. Willis was popular. Dr. Friend, the genial, the easy-going, the
friend, has long since passed away, but his memory is ever green with
the few who yet linger--aye few--who associated with him in
journalism in those early days. Mr. Guiwits went to Kansas City, and
Mr. Willis to California.
The second experiment of publishing a tri-weekly paper in Orange
County began in the office of the _Orange County Press_ when Stivers &
Kessinger (Moses D. Stivers and Albert Kessinger), on May 24, 1870,
issued the first number of the _Middletown Evening Press._ October
26, 1872, the tri-weekly became a daily under the name of the
_Middletown Daily Press,_ and continued until merged with the
_Middletown Times_ in February, 1906, under the name of the
_Middletown Times-Press._
The first journal to be issued at Cornwall, or Cornwall-on-the-Hudson
was called _The Cornwall Paper, a Local Record of Things New and
Old._ It was published by P. P. Hazen, of Cornwall, in conjunction
with A. A. Bensel, of Newburgh, issue No. 1 appearing April 15, 1871.
So far as known no other issue of the paper ever appeared.
May 24, 1875, Miss S. J. A. Hussey started the _Cornwall Times,_
which, lived six years.
In 1875 Isaac V. Montanye started the _Middletown Argus,_ a weekly
paper. It was merged with the _Mercury_ in 1876, and January 27,
1876, the _Daily Argus_ came forth and still does valiant service.
The _Daily Argus_ was started by Cornelius Macardell, Sr., who had
money as well as brains, and he made the _Argus_ and the _Mercury_
live democratic papers. George H. Thompson, who soon after leaving
college became connected with the concern, and his ready pen and many
other good newspaper qualities, soon won the attention of Mr.
Macardell, who installed him as editor, which position he retained to
his death. The present editor is A. B. Macardell.
An association of printers in Newburgh in October, 1875, started the
_Daily Penny Post,_ as a representative of labor and union interests.
While the _Post_ was struggling for existence the _Daily Mail_ was
started by a rival organization, in 1876. In June of the latter year
the _Post_ was discontinued, and having evidently accomplished its
purpose, the _Mail_ merged, in 1877, with the _Register._
It was in 1876 that the _Newburgh Register_ came into existence,
with many vicissitudes and owners, as previously explained, but
finally emerging from the _Telegraph_ under the able management of
the lamented Edward M. Ruttenber. The _Register_ later passed into
the hands of Herbert P. Kimber & Co., who made of it a bright, newsy,
democratic paper. Succeeding Mr. Kimber as editor were John A. Mason,
Francis Willard and A. L. Moffatt, the latter of whom fought the
Bryan element of the democratic party so vigorously that his
retirement from the paper in 1907 was a matter of much rejoicing in
the ranks of the reigning element of the party in Orange County. The
recent editor of the _Register_ was John V. Tucker, whose utterances
were evidently more in harmony with the views of the democratic
county committee. But the _Register_ suspended publication February
24, 1908.
In 1877 the _Cornwall Reflector_ was started by John Lee. Later H. H.
Snelling became editor. The paper lived until the latter part of
1888.
In 1879 James C. Merritt started the _Cornwall Mirror_ at Highland
Falls. In 1895 it was merged with the _Cornwall Local._
On April 4, 1880, appeared in Port Jervis the first number of the
_Sunday Morning Call._ It was a five-column quarto, neatly printed,
ably edited, and destined, as its first number indicated, to make a
stir in local social, political and religious circles. It was
published by Erwin G. Fowler and A. L. Moffatt, with Mr. Fowler as
editor. The latter was bright, witty, ready and fearless, and he
girded on his editorial armor and leaped into the arena of local
polemics with an ardor and a fearlessness that, for a time, set the
town in a furor. He attacked the validity of the bond issue for the
Monticello railroad, and came near having the bonds repudiated by the
people in accordance with court decisions in similar cases. His
iconoclasm aroused the frenzy of those most exposed to his vitriolic
assaults, and they sought to muzzle his _Call,_ with the result that
the last issue of his fearless paper appeared in December of the
same year.
April 23, 1881, appeared in Middletown the _Liberal Sentinel,_ an
independent weekly quarto, with John W. and Mrs. Lydia Hasbrouck as
editors. The paper was never profitable to them, but it enabled these
two benevolent people to again take up, for a time, the battle for
human rights--a struggle in which they had practically sacrificed the
bloom of their youth and the fruition of years. Mr. Hasbrouck has
gone to his reward, after a life of struggle, in his own quiet,
unassuming way, with the adverse forces of environment for the
betterment of humanity. His noble, self-sacrificing companion through
years, yet lives, a martyr to conventionality, a lover of the good,
the pure, the true. May her declining days be as peaceful and as
beautiful as the summer flowers that shed their fragrance and their
luster around her own beautiful habitation on Linden avenue's fair
lawn.
On the eighth of September, 1881, was issued at Port Jervis in the
office of the Tri-States Publishing Co., the first number of the
_Orange County Farmer._ It was a six-column quarto, and, as its name
indicates, was devoted to the interests of the farmer, dairyman, and
pomologist. The idea was one of the many conceptions of the fertile
brain of Charles St. John, Jr., then the head of the Tri-States
Publishing Co., a former supervisor of the town of Deer Park, a son
of former Congressman Hon. Charles St. John, a young man who, ere he
was out of his teens, was a leader in all the athletic sports of his
native village, Port Jervis, active, energetic in business, and
brimful of plans and ideas. He was one of the leaders in the county
in the liberal republican movement that, in 1872, led to the
nomination of Horace Greeley for President, and made the _Tri-States
Union_ and the campaign publication, _The Woodchopper,_ red-hot
champions of the Sage of Chappaqua. In starting the _Orange County
Farmer_ Mr. St. John built far better than he knew, as subsequent
events proved. The first number was, editorially, the joint
production of himself and his brother-in-law, Fred R. Salmon, then a
bookkeeper in the office of the _Tri-States Union._ Mr. Salmon had
been active in the business department, but developed talent in
connection with reportorial and editorial lines, and did some clever
agricultural work for the first and for many succeeding issues of the
_Farmer._ He was for some time known as managing editor of _The
Farmer,_ though after the first issue Erwin G. Fowler, late of the
_Sunday Call,_ and a former editor of the _Daily Union_ and of the
_Middletown Press,_ and a lover of horticultural matters, became the
active editor of _The Farmer,_ with Mr. Salmon as the business
manager. Under this joint control, with more or less supervision of
Mr. St. John, _The Farmer_ rapidly grew in popularity, in
circulation, and in influence. In 1890 Mr. Fowler and John J. Dillon,
then connected with the office and now manager of the _Rural New
Yorker,_ purchased _The Husbandman,_ an agricultural paper at Elmira,
and both retired from _The Farmer._ Mr. Fowler's successor was
William T. Doty, and Mr. Dillon's successor in the business
department was William F. Wade, now of the _Rural New Yorker._ In
1894 Mr. Fowler was again on _The Farmer's_ editorial staff and
remained until 1897, when declining health forced his retirement--and
his death in 1904 deprived the literary and agricultural world of one
of its brightest workers, the social world of one of the most
amiable, lovable, benevolent members, and Orange County's musical set
an able leader.
Mr. Fowler's successor on _The Farmer_ was Henry A. Van Fredenberg,
for years editor of the _Milling World_ and the _Lumber World,_ both
of Buffalo. Mr. Van Fredenberg was born in Montague, N. J., was
educated in the schools of Port Jervis, early became a school
teacher, and had charge of the schools at Sussex (then Deckertown),
N. J., when he entered the editorial harness on the _Sussex
Independent,_ and developed rare talent, which quickly secured his
recognition as a writer, a paragrapher, reporter, and editor. When
he was called to the editorial chair of the _Orange County Farmer_ he
had years of editorial experience, was a botanical scholar, a
marvelous linguist, a proficient mathematician, had a rare knowledge
of chemistry, geology and pomology, and was a careful student in
dairy and agricultural matters generally. That _The Farmer_ has
prospered beyond all expectations under his wise and able editorial
management is not saying too much. Started as a county agricultural
paper, it steadily grew out of its local bounds into State
reputation, and then into national and now into international
importance, with a circulation now (March, 1908), quoted at 25,000,
with subscribers in almost every civilized country in the world,
besides going into every State in the Union. It is quoted everywhere,
its editorial utterances and contributions are transferred to other
tongues, and it is recognized as one of the leading dairy journals of
the world. This marvelous growth and influence outside its own county
led its managers to change its title in 1897, when it became
_The New York Farmer,_ as more expressive of its character and the
scope of its work and operations. At this time (March, 1908), Mr.
Van Fredenberg is still the editor, and _The Farmer_ is now a
seven-column quarto, issued on Wednesday of each week.
In 1882 James J. McNally, the veteran newspaper man of Orange County,
started at Monroe a weekly seven-column folio, the _Monroe Herald._
In 1888 he started at Goshen the _Goshen News,_ and printed both
papers at Goshen until the spring of 1892, when he died, and both
publications ceased.
In 1883 _The News_ was started in Middletown as a Sunday paper by
that veteran journalist, James H. Norton. Associated with him was
Charles H. Conkling, a practical printer, and later W. T. Doty, whom
Mr. Norton induced to take a hand in the editorial work. _The News_
took an active interest in exploiting the farmer's interests during
the famous "milk war" which waged in that year, when milk was spilled
copiously in the Middletown streets and elsewhere, when encountered
in surreptitious transfer to some unpopular dealer. _The News_ was
an eight-column folio, nicely printed, and attained a considerable
circulation. Mr. Norton, and later Mr. Doty, retired from the
concern, and the material was sold to Mrs. Hasbrouck, later to
Lawyer Reid, who issued a few copies of _The Jeffersonian,_ then to
Isaac V. Montanye, who issued a few numbers of a labor paper, and
finally the material was purchased by James J. McNally, to be merged
with the _Monroe Herald_ and the _Goshen News._
In 1885 St. John & Salmon issued at Port Jervis _The Farm Guide,_ a
monthly of eight, twelve and sixteen pages. It did not live long.
In June, 1885, George F. Ketchum started at Warwick the _Warwick
Valley Dispatch._ It was an eight-column folio at first, and was
afterward enlarged to a nine-column folio which it is at present. In
1889 a half interest in the paper was sold to I. W. Litchfield, Mr.
Ketchum retaining control of the editorial policy. In 1894 Mr.
Litchfield engaged in other business, Mr. Ketchum taking over his
interest, which he still retains as sole controller of the paper and
its policy. The _Dispatch_ has always been democratic in its politics,
and for some years has been the leading--in fact, the main or
only--exponent of the aggressive democracy represented by the Bryan
forces in that party. Mr. Ketchum has been for several years chairman
of the democratic county committee, and that he has proven himself an
able editor and sagacious, fearless leader is evidenced by the growth
in popularity of his paper, and the endorsement in growing
aggressiveness of his course as leader of the democracy of the county
and chairman of the county committee.
_The Daily News_ was started in Newburgh as a penny daily, in 1885,
by William H. Keefe, who had been for many years the city editor of
the _Newburgh Daily Journal._ The paper had its inception amid modest
surroundings, but what its founder lacked in material resources,
however, he made up for in aggressiveness, enterprise and
versatility. The vigorous style of the newcomer in the journalistic
field caught the public fancy at the very start, and the paper soon
attained a large circulation and became a financial success.
William H. Keefe died in February, 1901, and the business was carried
on by the Newburgh News Printing and Publishing Co., which had been
organized several years prior to his death. Mr. F. W. Wilson is its
present able editor.
_The News_ soon outgrew the meager mechanical facilities and
restricted surroundings amid which it first saw the light, and in
1902 the plant was moved to its present home in the handsome building
at 40 and 42 Grand street, which it purchased and remodeled for its
own purpose. The installation of a still more modern and up-to-date
equipment marked the beginning of a new era in the history of the
paper, and successful as it had been up to that time, it has been
still more so since.
The _Newburgh Daily News_ of to-day is concededly one of the leading
newspapers of the Hudson River valley, not only in circulation, but
also in influence. It is splendidly equipped, and is not surpassed by
any newspaper in a city of equal size anywhere. Its plant represents
a large investment of capital and it carries on its pay-roll upwards
of fifty employees.
The handsome building, the modernly equipped plant, the large
circulation and volume of advertising all indicate that the _News_
enjoys the support and large patronage of the community in which it
is published and to which it is a distinct credit.
_The Daily Evening Press_ was established in Newburgh in 1888, as a
democratic organ, by James G. Dunphy. Mr. Dunphy was born in
Newburgh, August 21, 1842, and learned his trade under the late E. M.
Ruttenber. For many years he conducted the _Press_ with an ability
which brought success and secured it a great influence throughout the
county. After a considerable period of prosperity, however, a blight
seemed to fall upon the printing plant, and although for some time
Mr. Dunphy struggled bravely against ever-increasing obstacles, he
was finally obliged to give up the losing fight, and the _Press_
joined the large company of other Orange County organs which had
flourished for a season and then passed silently from the scene.
In 1887 St. John & Salmon started in Port Jervis a small quarto
called _Sunbeams._ It was a semi-humorous publication, but the
quality or quantity of its revelry failed somehow to attack the
risibles of a sufficient clientele of the American public, and its
weary publishers concluded to let the prosaic citizens plod on in
their own dull, flat, Boeotian way.
In 1888 N. E. Conkling & Co. started at Chester the _Orange County
News,_ a weekly, six-column folio, with N. E. Conkling as editor. It
was an independent paper, giving much attention to local news. At
times the paper published editions for Unionville and Pine Bush. In
February, 1908, the plant was sold to J. B. Gregory, and removed to
Monroe, where the latter started the _Ramapo Valley Gazette,_ March,
1908.
In April, 1888, the _Cornwall Local_ appeared at Cornwall-on-Hudson,
under the management of H. A. Gates. In September, 1889, he disposed
of the plant to C. P. Brate, of Albany, who installed his
brother-in-law, Thomas Pendall, a practical printer and bright
writer, as editor and publisher. In June, 1892, the _Local_ came
under the management of Lynn G. Goodenough, by whom it is still
conducted. The paper was classed as independent politically until it
came into Mr. Goodenough's possession. In 1896 he made the _Local_ a
republican paper, and as such it became a useful and influential
member of Orange County republican newspaperdom. Recently the name
of the paper became the _Local-Press,_ as more significant of a
newspaper than the name _Local._ In 1895 Mr. Goodenough purchased Mr.
Merritt's right, title and good will in the _Cornwall Mirror,_ and
consolidated that publication with the _Local._
In 1887 the _Walden Citizen_ came into existence. It is a six-column
quarto, republican in politics, well edited by J. H. Reed, and is a
newsy and meritorious publication.
A valuable monthly publication was begun in Port Jervis in 1888, when
_Church Life_ was issued. It was printed under the auspices of the
Reformed church of that place. It usually appeared in eight pages,
with two and three broad columns to a page. Its work was largely that
of gathering up local historical matters, and one of its most
valuable contributors was William H. Nearpass, whose penchant in that
direction enabled him to furnish much valuable historical
information that otherwise might have been lost to all generations.
Another contributor was the Rev. S. W. Mills, D.D., for many years
pastor of the Reformed Church of Deer Park. The paper was issued for
about fifteen years, but why it was allowed to cease no one connected
with the church seems to know. It was printed at the _Gazette_
office.
The _Orange County Dairyman_ was started at Middletown in the office
of the _Mercury and Argus,_ in December, 1888. The publishers were
Macardell, Thompson and Barrett (Cornelius Macardell, Sr., George H.
Thompson, and Leon Barrett, the artist.) Its editor was W. C. Cairns,
of Rockland, Sullivan County, better known as "Rusticus." The
_Dairyman_ was a five or six-column quarto. It never became
profitable, and went out of existence in January, 1890.
The only Sunday paper of the four or more started in this county that
seemed to have vitality enough to come down to our day was the
_Telegram_ of Newburgh. It was started in 1889 by Edward M.
Ruttenber, the venerable and learned printer, editor, author and
historian, who lately passed to his great reward, mourned by all, and
beloved and revered by those who knew him best. The _Telegram_ is now
published by J. W. F. Ruttenber, son of its founder. Though started
as a Sunday paper, it is now issued on Saturday, and is known as _The
Newburgh Telegram._ It is ably conducted, as it always has been. A
free lance in principle, it is fearless in its assaults, and
sometimes makes things very interesting for residents of the
Hillside city and its purlieus.
One of the publications that made a sensation at its starting, and
during its entire career was a subject of wide interest, was called
_The Conglomerate._ It was started June 15, 1890, by patients in the
State Homeopathic Hospital at Middletown. The first number was a
four-column folio, but it soon grew to a quarto, and its circulation
increased until, at its zenith, over 3,000 copies were issued. It
circulated in all parts of America, had subscribers in New Zealand,
and in fact in nearly every country, and its articles were copied
everywhere. _The Conglomerate_ stood for reform in lunacy matters,
and for this reason, and because of its too outspoken policy against
the State's lunacy commission, the authorities caused its suspension.
It was gotten out entirely at the State Hospital, where a
fully-equipped newspaper and job-printing office was established by
the patients under whose tutelage it was called into existence. Its
pages were full of bright things. Not only were its editorials able,
but its contributions were from brilliant minds, the names of whose
writers, for obvious reasons, are withheld. It ceased publication in
1897, after a brilliant career, during which it was eagerly sought,
read with avidity, and was a force for good throughout its whole
brief career.
On the afternoon of April 29, 1881, appeared in Middletown one of the
county's--aye, one of the State's--marvels of journalistic success
under the title of the _Middletown Daily Times._ The first numbers
were issued from the Hasbrouck printing office in the Hasbrouck
block, corner of North and Depot streets, and was a seven-column
folio. While it announced that Lewis S. Stivers and John D. Stivers
were editors and proprietors, it was understood that ex-Congressman
the Hon. Moses Dunning Stivers, their father, stood sponsor for the
publication, and this able writer and shrewd politician soon made his
personality evident in every issue of the _Times._ Rapidly did the
paper gain in circulation, in influence, and in popular confidence.
Congressman Stivers was a man of pronounced personality, had a way of
winning friends and retaining them, and with the recent expiration of
a successful term in Congress he was in position to build up a
powerful country newspaper plant. And that is just what he did. In
this work he was most ably assisted by his two sons, whose names
appeared at the head of the editorial columns. Lewis S. Stivers was a
practical printer, a pressman, and a thorough, all-round mechanical
expert; young, with a love for the trade--credited by all printers as
being not only practical but one of the most capable men in the
State. His brother, John D. Stivers, had been his father's private
secretary all through his congressional career, had acquitted himself
with entire credit, and having been "brought up" in a printing
office, was well qualified to enter the editorial department of the
establishment. As a reporter, as one ready and quick to grasp the
importance of legitimate news, he proved his fitness for the position
by keeping the _Times_ in the lead in its local and general news
departments. It was under such auspicious conditions that _The
Middletown Daily News_ presented itself to the public every afternoon
in the week, except Sunday, and its rapid growth in favor was the
fulfillment of the auguries of those who best knew its esteemed
sponsor and its managers. Within a short time the establishment was
removed to the first floor on the James and Henry street corner of
the Casino block. Here it remained until it was removed to its
present quarters at the corner of King and Center streets, in the
handsome four-story brick building of its own, and known as the Times
building or Stivers block. Here are fast presses, three Mergenthaler
Linotype machines and all the necessary accouterments to enable the
management to issue one of the best daily newspapers in this country,
outside of the larger cities. Its circulation is now daily
considerably over 5,000 copies. The death of the Hon. M. D. Stivers
and later of his son, Louis S. Stivers, removed two of the brightest
members of the Orange County newspaperdom, and necessitated
reorganization of the Times Publishing Co., which is now known as the
Stivers Printing Company, with John D. Stivers as president and Dr.
M. A. Stivers as secretary and treasurer. On February 11, 1906, the
_Middletown Daily Press_ merged with the _Times_ and the combination
has since issued as the _Middletown Times-Press._ The editorial
writer on the _Times_ and _Times-Press_ since November 1, 1905, has
been A. W. Russell, whose bright, well-put comments are one of the
features that commend this widely-read journal.
The _News of Highlands_ was started at Highland Falls in 1891. It is
published on Saturdays by F. F. & A. G. Tripp, and is politically
independent or neutral.
In February, 1892, appeared in Port Jervis the _Port Jervis Morning
Index,_ the second attempt in that place to establish a morning
daily. It was started by Isaac V. Montanye, of Goshen, and Sherwood
Rightmyer, his nephew; was an eight-column folio, independent, or
rather neutral, in politics, Mr. Montanye being a democrat and Mr.
Rightmyer a republican. The _Index_ was newsy, and well edited, but
ceased publication in August of the same year.
Middletown seems to have been the theatre of the sensational in
Orange County journalism. The _Banner of Liberty,_ the _Whig Press_
(whose editor was once caned in the streets for a bit of
facetiousness); the _Sybil,_ the _Mercury,_ the _Mail,_ the
_Standard,_ the _News,_ the _Liberal Sentinel,_ the _Labor Advocate,_
the _Conglomerate_--each had its day of riotous jest or caustic
invective that set the town "by the ears" for a time.
The latest one to enter this field of humor, sarcasm and expletive
was _The Forum,_ the first number of which was issued February 28,
1897, by W. T. Doty and H. W. Corey, and which, within a few weeks,
expanded into the _Middletown Sunday Forum._ The first few numbers
were printed in New York for the publishers by one of the "patent
inside" concerns, and the warmth of its reception was such that its
proprietors felt justified in putting in a plant of their own. The
office at first was in the business office of the Casino building,
in the second floor, but was later transferred to the first floor of
the rear of the same building on Henry street. From the unique
"greeting" in the first issue, the following excerpt is made as
characteristic of the purposes, course and whole conduct of the
publication:
"There are a number of reasons why we have concluded to publish _The
Forum._ First, we want to publish it. Second, there are a number of
people who don't want us to publish it. Third, there seems need of a
publication in this city that will call a spade a spade. Fourth, we
can stop it when we want to. Being able to stop publishing it, if we
want to, encouraged us in the idea of starting."
And so it was started, and with a pace that took the whole county by
storm. It was exultant, exuberant, jocular, sarcastic, hilarious, but
never whining, simpering, brawling or lachrymose. It had features
such as no other paper in the county had, and all these peculiarities
brought it into wider and wider notoriety, and the editions printed
almost invariably fell short of supplying the demand. A leading
feature was the "sermons" of "Pastor" Corey. There was a vein of the
keenest irony in them, generally of more or less local application,
and the demand for these lively satires extended to all classes of
citizens--those the severest hit as well as those who, from a safe
"coign of vantage," liked to watch the unique assaults. Another of
its peculiar features was the holding up to ridicule of the driveling
"items" and personals sent in by so many cross-roads correspondents
of country papers, and which were generally the clever work of
"Deacon" Peter F. Kaufman, a local real estate man who always looked
on the "funny side" of all events. The unfortunate and severe illness
of Mr. Corey necessitated the abandonment of the "sermons." The
concern was sold (December, 1897), to Frank L. Blanchard, of New
York, and later (1898) to W. T. Doty and Thomas Pendell, of Cornwall.
The latter two ran out a daily, _The Morning Forum,_ for some months,
in 1898. Then Mr. Pendall purchased the outfit, and transferred it to
Massena, N. Y. During the two or three years in which _The Forum_
lived in Middletown it "cut a wide swath," and kept the whole
surrounding country wondering "what next?" and, had it continued as
it began, would have landed its proprietors--who were getting a pile
of fun out of the proceeding--in the ranks of the multi-millionaires
or in the penitentiary. A unique financial feature of the experiment
was the fact that the paper more than paid its own way from the very
first issue.
In October, 1898, S. T. Morehouse started at Cornwall-on-Hudson the
_Cornwall Courier._ This was conducted by various parties, including
Mr. Morehouse and his son, Claude, by the well-known writer Creswell
McLaughlin, Bernard Call, Clark J. Brown, Clayton Brown, and William
Clark, and in 1906, ceased to exist.
The _Orange County Record_ was started at Washingtonville, May 17,
1899, by the Hon. Isaac V. Montanye (since deceased, December 26,
1906) and his nephew, Montanye Rightmyer. Since the death of Mr.
Montanye, Mr. Rightmyer is the editor and publisher. The paper is
devoted to local news.
In March, 1908, J. B. Gregory started at Monroe the _Ramapo Valley
Gazette._ The plant was that of the _Orange County News_ at Chester,
the paper started in 1888 by N. E. Conkling.
MISCELLANEOUS.
In addition to the above-mentioned so-called "regular publications,"
there have been numerous amateur, church, society, labor,
semi-literary, and other more or less sporadic productions
throughout the county from the time of the introduction of printing
into the county at Goshen in 1788 to the present time.
An enterprise of importance that may be classed under this heading
was that of the Franklin Printing Company, starting in Middletown, in
1879. At the head of the concern were James H. Norton, Isaac F.
Guiwits, of Middletown and William H. Nearpass, of Port Jervis. A
considerable building was erected on Mill street, Middletown, next to
the residence of Mr. Norton, and several presses and a finely
equipped printing establishment was installed, to print "patent
insides." A big business was there built up, and continued until the
purchase and absorption of the plant by the New York Newspaper Union,
and the transfer of the same to that city.
From 1884 to 1886 the United States Official Postal Guide for New
York City was printed by W. H. Nearpass at the Port Jervis _Gazette_
office. Anthony M. May & Co. had the contract for this work.
About 1886-7 lawyer T. A. Reid, of Middletown, amused himself for a
few months with a paper he called _The Jeffersonian._
Soon after, the Rev. Charles M. Winchester, a Free Methodist, came to
Middletown, probably in 1879, he started a daily paper which he
called _The Standard_ or _The Standard-Bearer._ It was published in
the interests of the temperance cause, and made a considerable
excitement during the eight or ten months of its existence.
The Pine Bush _Herald_ is a lateral production of the Walden
_Herald,_ and dates from 1904, with George W. Jamison as editor.
_Town Life_ was a weekly issued in Middletown from June, 1904, to
January, 1905, by Nelson W. Dix. It was a humorous publication with
illustrations by the young publisher, who has a taste and a
remarkable aptitude for drawing and cartoon work.
The _Orange County Magazine_ was started in Newburgh in 1906, and in
the same year the Goshen _Independent Republican_ issued a side
edition called the _Chester Independent Republican,_ with George W.
Ball as editor.
The first number of the _St. Paul's Herald_ was issued in August,
1892, and each month thereafter for about one year. It contained
eight pages, 9 by 12 inches to a page, and a cover. The _Herald_ was
issued in the interest of St. Paul's M. E. Church, and Middletown
Methodism. The editor and proprietor was Henry P. Powers, the present
City Editor of the Middletown _Argus,_ and it was printed at the
_Times_ office.
_The Worker's Advocate_ was started in Middletown about 1903, and
conducted several years by W. H. McCarter, as an independent weekly
paper.
_The Church Helper_ was issued under auspices of Drew M. E. Church in
Port Jervis, for about one year. The first number appeared in June,
1889. It was a monthly, devoted almost exclusively to church and
temperance work.
_The Parish Monthly_ has been issued since 1906 by sanction of the
Rev. John J. Morris, pastor of the Church of the Immaculate
Conception in Port Jervis. It is a two-column folio, printed by P. J.
Gaudy, Port Jervis, for the dissemination of local church news.
_The Golden Rod_ is a monthly issued by Frederick Arthur Gates, M.A.,
pastor of the Ridgebury Presbyterian church, and printed at the
office of the Middletown _Times-Press._ The Associate Editor is Mary
C. Clark, with a corps of correspondents. It contains 10 pages and a
cover, with two columns to a page, and with a subscription price of
25 cents a year. It has some local news and advertisements, but is
devoted mainly to church and temperance work. It was started in
January, 1907.
AMATEUR PUBLICATIONS.
The county has seen the birth and death of many amateur publications.
The first in the county, so far as now known, and believed to be one
of the first in the whole country, was issued in Port Jervis in 1862.
It was called _The Tiger._ It was a diminutive production of four
small pages, and was printed on one of the Adams Amateur presses, one
of the first made, and the type, furnished by the same concern, was
set by the energetic young publisher, William Henry Nearpass. _The
Tiger_ was issued semi-occasionally, to suit the whim or convenience
of the publisher, for two or three years. Mr. Nearpass was then a
clerk in the grocery and dry goods store of Charles St. John, at the
corner of Pike and West Main streets. Mr. Nearpass was then about
twenty-two years of age.
Newburgh has had many of these amateur prints, beginning in 1875.
Among them may be mentioned the following: _Union Jack, American
Eagle, The Comet, The Index, The Collector, The Packet, The Laurel,
The Amateur Herald._
In 1877 Port Jervis had the _Amateur Guide,_ and in 1880 _The
Cricket._
_Academy Miscellany_ was started by the Port Jervis high school
students in March, 1889, and was discontinued in May, 1895. It was a
monthly publication, of eight pages, with two broad columns to a
page, was devoted to school matters almost exclusively, and was a
bright publication.
_The Owl_ is a bright twenty-page monthly issued by the Middletown
high school students, and printed at the office of the _Times-Press._
It has been issued for several years, and is a particularly
commendable school publication, both for the neatness with which it
is gotten out, the literary character of its contents, and the
business-like character of the publication. The present editor is
James A. Rorty, the business manager, E. C. Faulkner.
During 1897 _The Union School Journal_ was published by Merritt C.
Speidel, now of the Tri-States Publishing Co., Port Jervis, and Hugh
M. Cox, now a practicing physician in New York City, who were the
editors and managers. It had 12 pages of 10 by 12 inches, three
columns to a page, and had a circulation of 500. The publication was
devoted to the interests of the schools and to matters of a general
educational nature. The paper had the official sanction of the school
authorities, and many prominent Orange County writers contributed to
it.
The Publications of the County.
IN ANCIENT GOSHEN.
The _Goshen Repository_ was issued in 1788, by David Mandeville and
David M. Westcott, at the Goshen Academy. The nature of the
publication seems now unknown; nor is the size of the publication,
or its character. In 1793 its office was near the court house. In
1800 it was sold to John G. and William Heurtin, thus showing a life
of twelve years--a much better showing than that made by many of its
successors there and elsewhere. Messrs. Heurtin changed its name to
the _Orange County Patriot,_ and in 1801 William Heurtin sold his
interest to William A. Carpenter, when the name was changed to _The
Friend of Truth._ In 1804 it passed to the ownership of Ward M.
Gazlay or Gazley, and again its name was changed. This time it became
the _Orange Eagle._ A fire in 1805 in the office singed the _Eagle's_
feathers, but it was enabled to move about, and took its flight to
Newburgh, where it became the _Political Index._
Taking its name from an extinct Newburgh paper, Gabriel Denton, in
1804, issued the _Orange County Gazette._ Edward M. Ruttenber traces
its history to Elliott Hopkins in 1807, to Elliott Hopkins & Co. in
1811, to Elliott Hopkins in 1812. to F. J. & A. D. Houghton in 1813,
and to 1818, when it was "printed and published for the proprietor."
How long after this it lasted is not known.
In 1808 Gabriel Denton started the _Orange County Patriot and Spirit
of Seventy-six._ It was doubtless a patriotic publication, probably a
jingo organ firing the American heart for another struggle with Great
Britain, which came in 1812. In 1811 it was removed to Newburgh by
Lewis & Crowell, where it was published as a "new series." T. B.
Crowell became its publisher, and announced that its columns were
"open to all parties" but were "influenced by none." In 1822 Mr.
Crowell moved the paper back to Goshen, and sold it to R. C. S.
Hendrie, who, February 22, 1834, sold it to F. T. Parson, who changed
its name to the _Goshen Democrat._ In 1842 Charles Mead associated
with Mr. Parson. Nathaniel Webb secured Mr. Parson's interest, and
the firm became Mead & Webb, and later Charles Mead & Son, after the
death of Mr. Webb. In 1843 R. C. S. Hendrie started the _True Whig,_
two years later selling it to Charles Mead, who merged it with his
paper under the title of _The Goshen Democrat and Whig._ Later the
name _Whig_ was dropped, and the paper remains to this day the
_Goshen Democrat._ The firm of Mead & Son came into existence January
1, 1865, and continued until January 1, 1892, when the elder Mead
sold his interest to Edwin L. Roys. William W. Mead and Edwin L.
conducted the establishment under the firm name of Mead & Roys until
September 1, 1902, on which date they sold the concern to J. R.
Colburn, of Washington, D. C. Two months later (November 1, 1902),
John F. Barringer, of Walden, bought the plant and, two months later
(January 1, 1903), sold it to John B. Scott and George V. Gregg, who
conducted the same under the firm name of Scott & Gregg, until
September 1, 1905. on which date Mr. Scott sold his interest to
George F. Gregg, who has since been its proprietor.
In 1820 Williams & Farrand started the _Orange Farmer._ Mr. Ruttenber
speaks of this as the _Orange County Farmer,_ but as the copies now
in existence bear the title _Orange Farmer,_ the writer is inclined
to believe the word "County" is a slip of the usually very accurate
pen of Mr. Ruttenber. Its founders were graduates of the Albany
_Plow-Boy,_ and aimed to make the _Farmer_ an agricultural
publication. How long it lasted is not known. A well-preserved copy
of this _Farmer_ is now in possession of Dr. James J. Mills, of Port
Jervis. It is volume IV, No. 195, dated November 17, 1823.
About 1822 there moved into Goshen a lusty young pioneer, sixteen
years of age, under the patronymic of _The Independent Republican._
This stripling was born at Montgomery, May 6, 1806, and there
christened the _Orange County Republican._ Under the tutelage of
Luther Pratt in 1812, in its sixth year, its name was changed to that
of the _Independent Republican,_ and in 1818 James A. Cheevey became
its sponsor, and removed it to Goshen about 1822. In 1832 the
_Independent Republican_ plant was sold to Henry H. Van Dyck, who
sold it in 1836 when he became State Senator, to Victor M. Drake,
then a young printer twenty-seven years of age, who had for some time
been employed in the office, as apprentice and journeyman printer. In
1841 Mr. Drake sold the establishment to Moses Swezey, who came to
Goshen from Long Island in 1834 as a violinist and dancing master. He
was a fine penman, a good bookkeeper, and an excellent accountant,
and became the head clerk for County Clerk Lebbeus L. Vail. As editor
of the _Independent Republican_ he wielded a powerful and caustic
pen, and became a power in Orange County politics. He was the father
of the present Surrogate, John B. Swezey.
In 1846 Mr. Swezey sold the plant to Clark & Montanye. It continued,
as it long had been, the local organ of the "Hunker" faction of the
Democracy. Late in the '50's Mr. Clark went to Iowa and started a
Republican paper. James J. McNally purchased the plant in 1853, and
sold it to Isaac V. Montanye in 1857, only to repurchase it, selling
it again in 1869 to Edward M. Ruttenber and H. P. Kimber. Mr.
Ruttenber retired, and in 1874 Mr. Kimber sold it to Thomas P.
McElrath, an ambitious New Yorker, who had some fond illusions which
he hoped to engraft into Orange County journalism. He made friends
and foes fast and furious--particularly the foes--and in 1876 retired
to New York, utterly disgusted with journalism in Orange County.
Then Hon. I. V. Montanye and his son, Lucien, secured the paper. In
1883 the former retired, and Frank Drake secured an interest in the
concern, under the firm name of Montanye & Drake. In March, 1892, Mr.
Drake became sole owner, and remains such to-day (March, 1908).
The present proprietor of the _Independent Republican,_ Frank Drake,
is a son of that veteran Orange County journalist, Victor M. Drake,
and is a "chip of the old block," a good newspaper man. He is making
the paper newsy, keen, merry and bright. He changed it from a weekly
to a semi-weekly edition, issued on Tuesdays and Fridays. It is a
five-column quarto.
The _Independent Republican_ has not always had things its own way in
Goshen Democratic politics. In 1843 Hector Vail, son of County Clerk
Lebbeus L. Vail, and T. W. Donovan started the _Democratic Standard_
under the firm name of Vail & Donovan. The _Standard_ represented the
"Barn-Burners" or Free Soil element in the Democratic party, and in
antagonism to the interests represented the "Hunkers" and the
_Independent Republican._ In 1844 Mr. Donovan retired, and Hector
Vail changed its name to the _Goshen Clarion._ The Democratic
factional fight became stronger, and the _Clarion_ had such backers
as Lebbeus L. Vail, Asa D. Jansen, James H. Jansen, John B. Booth of
Goshen; Merritt H. Cash, Minisink, and Francis Tuthill of Chester. On
the death of Lebbeus Vail, the _Clarion,_ in 1879 was discontinued,
the subscription list going to the _Independent Republican_ and the
material to Milford, Pa., having been purchased by John M. Heller or
James J. McNally, or both, and where it became the _Pike County
Democrat_ and later the _Milford Herald._
One paper devoted exclusively to theological subjects had its origin
in Goshen, and lives to-day to tell the tale. In 1832 the _Signs of
the Times_ was started, by Lebbeus L. Vail, a convert from
Congregationalism to the Old School Baptist tenets. Between politics
and theology Mr. Vail was kept pretty busy. He was a candidate for
county clerk on the Democratic ticket, and in 1834 was elected. About
this time an earnest young expounder of Mr. Vail's new-grounded faith
appeared on the scene. Mr. Vail could not very well run a religious
journal and the county clerk's office at the same time, so he turned
the _Signs of the Times_ over, body and soul, to the youthful
preacher, and Elder Gilbert Beebe took his prize in a wagon, and
landed it in New Vernon, near Middletown. Thence he moved it to
Alexandria, Va., whence it came to Middletown, where it is domiciled
to-day.
During the fight in the Democratic party between the "Hard-Shell"
faction, representing the pro-slavery element, and the "Soft-Shell,"
representing the Douglas, Squatter-Sovereignty, or Anti-Nebraska
element in the party, in 1854, the _Democratic Recorder_ was started
by A. G. Tucker. The _Recorder_ had a short life, and the
subscription list and materials were purchased by James J. McNally
and absorbed by his _Independent Republican._
The next and last paper to appear in Goshen was the _Goshen News,_ in
1888, under James J. McNally, which, as already told, passed into
that ever-open haven of refuge, the portals of the _Independent
Republican,_ on the death of Mr. McNally, in 1892.
NEWBURGH AND NEW WINDSOR.
When New Windsor leaps into the arena of contest with a journal of
uncertain antiquity, but clearly at the daybreak of journalistic
chronology in Orange County, she has grounds for contesting the
concession that Newburgh was second, or Goshen even first, in the
honors due to pioneerism in the printing art.
E. M. Ruttenber says: "In 1799 Jacob Schultz removed to Newburgh the
_New Windsor Gazette,_ the name of which he changed to _Orange County
Gazette._" It is not in evidence when this New Windsor paper began
and it may have been immediately or long prior to its removal to
Newburgh.
But Mr. Ruttenber says the first paper published in Newburgh was the
_Newburgh Packet_ in 1795. The proprietor was Lucius Carey,
son-in-law of Rev. John Close, Presbyterian minister at Newburgh and
New Windsor. Carey sold the paper to David Denniston in 1797, who
changed its name to _The Mirror,_ Philip Van Home (1797) and Joseph
W. Barber (1798) appearing as proprietors.
In 1796 a pamphlet entitled, "An Apology for the Bible," was printed
in Newburgh, by David Denniston. It was written by R. Watson, D.D.,
F.R.S. It is said it was creditably printed and bound.
When the _Orange County Gazette_ emerged from the _New Windsor
Gazette_ in 1799, Newburgh had two printing shops where books as well
as papers were printed, and the legend is that the _Gazette_ became
_The Citizen,_ though Mr. Ruttenber questions this, as none of the
issues are to be found. As Mr. Denniston was, about this time,
connected with the _American Citizen,_ of New York City, this fact
may have given rise to the belief that a local _Citizen_ had existed.
_The Rights of Man_ was started in 1799 by Dr. Elias Winfield. Mr.
Denniston also purchased this paper, evidently merging it with his
_Orange County Gazette._
_The Recorder of the Times_ was started by Dennis Cole, in 1803. _The
Mirror_ was absorbed by the _Rights of Man_ in 1804, and the latter
by _The Times,_ in 1805. Ward M. Gazlay, this year, drove into town
with the remnants of his _Orange Eagle,_ whose office had been burned
in Goshen, purchased the _Recorder of the Times,_ in 1806, and
changed the name to the _Political Index,_ and it lived until 1829,
when it became the _Orange Telegraph_ and the _Newburgh Telegraph_
under Charles M. Cushman. Under many changes it lived to become,
under E. M. Ruttenber, in 1876, the _Newburgh Register._
In June, 1822, John D. Spaulding started the _Newburgh Gazette._
Through a succession of owners it came, in 1856, to Eugene W. Gray,
who, in connection with the _Gazette,_ began the publication of a
political paper which he called the _Daily News._ In 1864 the name of
the _News_ was dropped and _Daily Telegraph_ substituted, and later
in the same year it became the _Daily Union,_ in 1866 all the
previous titles were dropped and that of _The Press_ substituted, in
1869 the title of _Telegraph_ restored, and in 1876 that of
_Register._
The _Newburgh Journal,_ started in 1833-4 by John D. Spaulding,
became the _Highland Courier_ in 1843, and in 1859, under Rufus A.
Reed, it became the _Highland Chieftain._ The establishment came into
the possession of Cyrus B. Martin, who resumed the name of _Newburgh
Journal,_ and in 1863 began the publication of the _Daily Journal,_
which is continued to-day by Ritchie & Hull.
_The Beacon,_ an anti-Jackson paper, was commenced in 1828 by Judge
William B. Wright. Wallace & Sweet, in 1834, published the _National
Advertiser,_ and later merged it in the _Gazette._ In 1849 Thomas
George issued the _Newburgh Excelsior,_ which was purchased by E. M.
Ruttenber (May, 1851), who merged it in the _Telegraph._ For three or
four weeks in 1855 R. P. L. Shafer published the _Newburgh American._
_The Newburgh Times,_ a temperance paper, was started in March, 1856,
by Royal B. Hancock, "as agent for an association of gentlemen."
After passing into the ownership of R. Bloomer & Son, Alexander
Wilson and Charles Blanchard, it became, under the latter, the
_Newburgh Daily Democrat,_ and lived thus only a few months.
An association of printers, in October, 1875, started the _Daily
Penny Post,_ and in 1876 a rival association started the _Daily
Mail._ The _Post_ died in 1876, and in 1877 the _Mail_ was absorbed
by the _Register._
Newburgh's theological serial publications began in 1824, when the
Rev. J. R. Wilson started the _Evangelical Witness,_ a religious
monthly of forty-eight pages, devoted to the interests of the
Reformed Presbyterian church. In four years (1828), it was succeeded
by the _Christian Statesman,_ which lived one year. Authorized by
the Synod of the same church, the Rev. Moses Roney, March 1, 1836,
began the publication of the _Reformed Presbyterian,_ a monthly of
thirty-two pages. In 1849 Mr. Roney removed the magazine to
Pittsburgh, Pa., where he died in 1854, and his widow continued its
publication until succeeded by the Rev. Thomas Sproul. For one year
the _Family Visitor_ lived, a monthly quarto, conducted by the Rev.
David L. Proudfit. Beginning in 1845 he published the _Christian
Instructor,_ a thirty-two page monthly. Two years later the Rev.
J. B. Dales bought it and removed it to Philadelphia. The _Catholic
Library Magazine_ was begun in 1856 by the Catholic Library
Association, with John Ashhurst as editor. It was published monthly,
and lived until August, 1860.
Newburgh has been a fertile field for the production of newspapers
and periodicals of all sorts, as seen above, the religious as well as
the secular press felt the popular pulse, and then passed away.
There were also literary ventures more or less pretentious, each
budding, blossoming and fading in a short season.
_Tables of Rural Economy_ was issued in May, 1832, by John Knevels.
It was a monthly quarto and lived less than a year. The _Literary
Scrap-Book_ was a monthly of forty-eight pages, started in 1855 by
R. B. Denton. Its life was short. In 1857 Domaski's School began the
publication of _The Acorn,_ which lived until 1859. Some time
afterward the title was rescued in a publication by the students of
the Newburgh Institute under charge of Mr. Siglar, and again it died.
One of the most profitable of all these literary ventures in Newburgh
was that of the _Household Advocate,_ by S. S. Wood, begun in 1867.
It was an eight-page monthly and soon secured a large circulation.
Mr. Wood later changed its name to the _Household Magazine._ It
attained a circulation of 60,000, and the writer is one of the many
who read its pages with eagerness until it failed in 1874.
Another publication which the writer remembers reading with much
pleasure was _Home, Farm and Orchard,_ an eight-page weekly started
in 1869 by A. A. Bensel. It lived until the spring of 1876.
During the years of 1872 and 1873 Demorest & Burr issued the _Musical
Bulletin,_ a monthly quarto.
In amateur papers there were several. Among them: _The Union Jack,_
by Master A. Ludlow Case (1865 to 1873); the _American Eagle,_ by
Frank S. Hull, aged twelve years (1865); _The Comet,_ by Henri Gerard
(1871); _The Index,_ by J. Walker F. Ruttenber (1871); _The
Collector,_ by D. W. Jagger (1871); _The Packet,_ by W. H. Wood and
D. W. Corwin (1872); _The Laurel,_ by a Milligan (1872); the _Amateur
Herald,_ by T. R. Balf (1872).
AT MONTGOMERY.
Montgomery seems to have come forth into the journalistic arena.
The _Orange County Republican_ was printed there from 1806 to 1818.
It was begun May 6, 1806, and was printed by Cyrus Beach and Luther
Pratt. This publication, as already shown in the Goshen notes, was
removed to Goshen and became the _Independent Republican._
In 1833-1834 the _Republican Banner_ was printed there by Calvin
F. S. Thomas. In June, 1859, William H. Smith started the _Montgomery
Standard._ The _Montgomery Republican_ was issued in September, 1868,
by Lester Winfield, being a continuation of a publication he started
at Galeville Mills, Ulster County, in May, 1864, and which he removed
to Pine Bush and called the _Pine Bush Weekly Casket,_ in November,
1867. May 1, 1869, the _Standard_ and the _Republican_ united their
forces and became the _Republican and Standard,_ under Lester
Winfield. In 1896 Lyman H. Taft started the _Reporter._ Later the
_Reporter_ and the _Republican and Standard_ united, and became the
_Montgomery Standard and Reporter,_ which it is now (March, 1908),
with Lyman H. Taft as editor and proprietor, and Charles M. Miller,
associate editor. It is a large nine-column folio, republican in
politics, with a decided tendency to be independent.
In April, 1868, Stephen H. Sayer started the _Wallkill Valley Times,_
a large seven-column folio. It was neatly printed, and the office
well-equipped, with a cylinder press--a rare acquisition in those
days. In 1869 Mr. Sayer issued the _Dollar Weekly._ In 1871 Lester
Winfield purchased the _Times_ and the _Weekly_ outfit, and remained
in Montgomery until his death a few years ago.
AT SLATE HILL.
Reference has already been made to a well-printed paper issued in
Slate Hill or Brookfield, in 1834, the _Republican Sentinel._ The
writer has several well-preserved copies of this neat publication,
but when it passed out of existence is not now known. The name of the
editor does not appear, nor of the publisher.
Slate Hill in that day was a thriving settlement, and doubtless would
have continued to grow had not the Erie railroad come to Goshen in
1842 and to Middletown two or three years later.
IN MIDDLETOWN.
It was in 1840 that the first printing outfit landed in Middletown.
In that year A. A. Bensel started the _Middletown Courier,_ a
democratic weekly, which he continued until April, 1846, when,
apparently scared by the entrance of the Erie railroad, he "pulled up
stakes" and never stopped until his outfit was landed in Kingston,
N. Y., where he started the _Ulster Democrat._
The _Orange County News_ was the second venture in Middletown. This
was started in July, 1846, by John S. Brown, and it lived until 1849.
It was neutral in politics and evidently in almost everything else,
and, it is said, hardly deserved the name of a newspaper.
About 1847 Elder Gilbert Beebe came into town with his Old School
Baptist _Signs of the Times,_ which he removed from Alexandria, Va.,
as already explained. This publication continues, changed somewhat in
form but not in method or substance, and remains a monument to the
peculiar tenets of the faithful band of adherents of a sturdy
theological doctrine. For many years it was printed in the "meeting
house" on Orchard street, where the Denton residence now stands, and
directly opposite the residence of Elder Beebe. A few years ago, and
some time after the death of Elder Beebe, the plant was removed to
the upper floor of the brick building at the west corner of East Main
and Roberts streets, and the "meeting-house," a plain brick
structure, stands on the corner of Roberts and Cottage streets. The
_Signs_ is published by J. E. Beebe & Co., and is edited by Elder
F. A. Chick, of Hopewell, N. J., and Elder H. C. Kerr, of Middletown.
In 1848 Gilbert Judson Beebe started the _Banner of Liberty._ It was
at first published monthly, eight pages with four columns to a page.
After 1856 it became a weekly publication, the same size. It was a
rank pro-slavery paper, and opposed and assaulted all lines of modern
thought or suggestion of innovation or iconoclasm. This style of
polemics met a hearty response in the South and Southwest, and the
paper attained a circulation of 27,000 copies. For years it was
printed in the old frame structure then known as the Pinkus Building
on East Main street, next to the Holding House. When the Civil War
broke out its circulation and income were greatly cut down by the
interruption of mail communication between the North and the South,
and the death of the talented but obdurate and intractable editor,
after the war, left nothing for the _Banner of Liberty_ to do but to
go somewhere and expire. It did. It went to Ellenville, and shortly
was heard of no more.
In 1856 Mr. Beebe published a _Campaign Banner._
Gilbert J. Beebe also started in 1848, and in this case may fairly be
said to have "established" the _Middletown Mercury_ which as
elsewhere stated, became one of the brightest country newspapers in
the United States under James H. Norton and Isaac F. Guiwits.
Mr. Beebe printed another paper in his early and more ambitious days.
From 1850 to 1852 he ran out an advertising monthly for gratuitous
circulation. It was called the _Middletown Advertiser._
The next paper to appear in Middletown was _The Whig Press._ It was
started November 26, 1851, by John Whitbeck Hasbrouck, a young man
from Ulster County. In 1866 he changed its name to the _Orange County
Press._ This concern, always prosperous and influential, but which
finally merged with the _Times_ and became a part of the
_Times-Press_ (February 1, 1906), had an eventful career, which is
best summed up in the following brevities taken from the last issue
of the _Daily Press,_ February 28, 1906:
Established November 26, 1851, by John W. Hasbrouck, and conducted by
him for about seventeen years.
April 9, 1868, purchased by Moses D. Stivers and conducted by him
for twenty months.
December 3, 1869, firm of Stivers & Kessinger formed, the junior
member being Albert Kessinger, who died in the summer of 1872.
May 24, 1870, a tri-weekly edition was started, issued Tuesdays,
Thursdays and Saturdays.
October 15, 1872, F. Stanhope Hill and John Whiting Slauson bought
the paper under the firm name of Hill & Slauson.
October 26, 1872. this firm discontinued the tri-weekly known as the
_Evening Press,_ and started in its place the _Middletown Daily
Press,_ issued afternoons.
July 1, 1873, M. D. Stivers bought Mr. Hill's interest, and the firm
of Stivers & Slauson was formed and continued seven and one-half
years.
December 14, 1880, Mr. Stivers sold his interest to Charles J. Boyd,
and the firm of Slauson & Boyd was formed.
July 24, 1883, Slauson & Boyd issued the first number of the _Orange
County Semi-Weekly Press_--the first semi-weekly local paper in this
section, and a pronounced success from the start.
August 1, 1883, M. D. Stivers again became part owner of the _Press,_
and the firm became Stivers, Slauson & Boyd, continuing for about
seven and one-half years.
March 1, 1891, Mr. Stivers sold his interest to his partners, and the
firm of Slauson & Boyd for the second time came into existence.
February 1, 1906, merged into the _Times-Press,_ after an honored and
prosperous record of more than fifty-four years.
The term of service with the _Press_ of each proprietor in round
numbers is: John W. Hasbrouck, seventeen years; Moses D. Stivers,
nineteen years; John W. Slauson, thirty-three years; Charles J.
Boyd, twenty-five years; Albert Kessinger, three years; F. Stanhope
Hill, one year.
Reference has already been made to _The Hardwareman's Newspaper_
(1855), _The Sybil_ (1856), _The Iron Age_ (1858), _The Rising Sun_
(1866), _The Mail,_ daily and weekly (1869), _The Standard_ (1874?),
_The Argus,_ weekly (1875), daily (1876), _The Liberal Sentinel_
(1881), _The News_ (1883), _The Jeffersonian_ (1886?), _The Forum_
(1897), and the _Worker's Advocate_ (1899?).
THE PRESS IN PORT JERVIS.
Printing was introduced into Port Jervis by a colored man, P. H.
Miller. Of his personality the writer is unable, at this day, to
learn a thing--whence he came or whither he departed. He began the
printing here of an independent Whig paper, which he called the _Port
Jervis Express,_ early in 1850. It was neatly printed, a five or
six-column folio, and reflected credit on its founder. It was printed
in an office on West Main street, on the west side of the canal. That
section was then about all there was of Port Jervis, though the Erie
had arrived, and started a station near the Delaware River which it
called Delaware. The people of "the Port" objected to this name, and
for a long time strife was keen between the residents and the Erie
company over the name, the advocates of "the Port" finally winning.
The _Express_ saw the tail end of this fight, before its life of nine
months drew to a close.
In November of the year (1850) when the Express passed away, the
_Tri-States Union_ was started. Its founder was Col. Sam Fowler, a
Jersey-man who had acquired considerable land in the village, all
within the boundaries of the present city. He was ambitious, had
money, vim and a purpose. He built a palatial home on the banks of
the Neversink, erected the Fowler House, and was proceeding to make
Port Jervis the booming town of the east, when financial disaster
overtook him, and, to the great loss of the town, he left it never to
return, his vast interests involved in hopeless encumbrances.
But before he left he started the _Tri-States Union,_ and it lives
to-day. It was a Democratic newspaper, with John I. Mumford editor.
_The Union_ has had a number of owners, and had its ups and downs,
but it always managed to appear on schedule time, and in usual form,
though at times during the Civil War it was sorely pressed to
imitate many of its exchanges--when it was almost impossible to buy,
beg or steal white paper--and appear in wrapping paper, or in "any
old thing." It is now a six-column quarto, with a large circulation,
has an afternoon edition of the _Port Jervis Daily Union,_
seven-column folio, has two of the latest Mergenthaler Linotype
machines, and is of the concern that issues one of the leading
agricultural papers of the country, _The New York Farmer._
The _Tri-States Union_ was first issued in a small building somewhere
near where the Hubbard Building now stands, opposite the Fowler House
and the present Erie depot (1908). Later it was removed to the old
frame building Nos. 55-57 Pike street, now the four-story brick
structure built by George Lea and occupied by Mason & Son, druggists.
The early 60's found it located on Pike street, over the Union store,
in the second floor of the two-story frame structure at No. 100 Pike
street now (March, 1908) occupied as the Central or Northrup's meat
market. Thence it was removed by Foster & Mitchell (1870) to the
Creegan Block, No. 76 Pike street, over what is now Laidley's drug
store. Next (1872) it was removed to the rear of St. John & Malven's,
now the Gordon Company foundry building, on Sussex street. In 1873
it was removed to No. 81 Pike street, now Collin's news and
confectionery store, and in 1882 to its present location No. 112
Pike street, in the Farnum Block.
Port Jervis has survived many severe temperance agitations. The most
acute stage seems to have been in the extreme youth of the
place--when impressions ought to be most lasting and beneficial.
Between 1852 and 1855, it had three papers devoted to the cause of
temperance. The first was the _Mirror of Temperance_ started in June,
1852, by J. L. Barlow and John Dow. This _Mirror_ reflected its
surroundings for about eighteen months, and then faded away. It was a
handsome paper, well printed and ably edited.
In 1853 an Englishman, John Williams, took up the fight where the
_Mirror_ dropped it, and started _The Sentinel._ With the proverbial
pugnacity of a "Johnny Bull," Mr. Williams thought he needed more
paper weapons with which to fight the "drink evil," and so, in the
autumn of 1854 he issued a campaign paper which he called _The
Precursor of Temperance,_ and which died with the fall campaign. _The
Sentinel_ lived until 1855, in which year Mr. Williams went to
Middletown and in the _Whig Press_ office began issuing the
_Hardwareman's Newspaper,_ the precursor of the _Iron Age,_ the
leading organ to-day of the iron industry in this country, and which
is now---or was recently--published by his son, David Williams, in
New York City.
April 22, 1869, James Henry Norton and William Henry Nearpass began
the publication of the _Evening Gazette._ It was a five-column folio,
set in bourgeois type, was published tri-weekly, Tuesdays,
Thursdays and Saturdays. Soon afterward appeared the weekly edition,
_The Family Gazette,_ afterward changed to _The Port Jervis Weekly
Gazette._ It was started on the third floor of the brick building
then just built by Cook & Burrell as an umbrella factory at No. 92
Pike street, now (March, 1908), occupied by Johnson & Stoll's
furniture store. Thence it moved to Westbrook's Hall, the third floor
of the building now occupied by the J. W. Dalley Co., Nos. 66-68 Pike
street; thence to its present quarters in the Mondon Building, 90
Pike street, corner of Pike and Ball streets. The tri-weekly became a
daily afternoon issue, January 17, 1881. It is now a well-equipped
office, has a Mergenthaler Linotype machine, and all the accessories
of a good country newspaper.